Past Year's Projects: Part 2

I promised scrapping and here they are! Not many as I mentioned last time...but a few. I had all intentions of making a full scrapbook of her first year with all my favorite photos. That hasn't happened...though I have kept up with her baby book. That's something!

This first page is one that I actually started way back on maternity leave while the baby was sleeping. It was the first page I had started in over a year. 2011 was a trying year. My dad was diagnosed and treated for cancer, my soon-to-be-husband was at Officer Candidate school for 4 months in MO and I was lost. But in 2012 we were blessed. We got married, had sweetpea, and my dad got a clean bill of health. 2013 is starting out a bit challenging and my goal is allow myself time to do my art projects....

baby announcement spread

I worked on these next pages last week. It was nice to reflect back. A little sad, a little exciting, reminiscing. Sad because it is flying by but exciting because she's here. I was struck looking at pictures of the baby shower how fast it goes! She has already used/worn all of the items in those photos. How did that happen?

"pregnant"

Baby Shower: page 1

Baby Shower: Page 2

Baby Shower: Page 3

In the next post I'll share some of my knitting. Knitting has been my mainstay. It is the one art outlet I have been consistently doing besides photos. I knit when I was taking my dad to his treatments, while I was pregnant with baby girl, and when I was home on leave learning how to be her mom. It is my art therapy.

Thanks for stopping by!

Past Year's Projects: Part 1

photography has been a constant

So in the past 11 months I have begun to learn the ropes of raising a little girl while working 2 jobs and moving into our first house (a 2 bedroom condo). This week alone, I have been stuck at home for the better part of 6 days trying to keep my sick baby from getting dehydrated from the stomach flu. Needless to say there hasn't been much time for my projects and art. But as I started taking photos around the house this morning of things I have been working on I was surprised. I've managed to do more art than I thought. I'll start off with my favorite projects...

Baby & Home:

My most important and favorite "project"...Elizabeth ("Ellie") Adeline...this picture was taken soon after we took her home. She is now 11 months old and I can't believe time has gone by so fast.

 We bought our own place this summer. In the area we live, my hometown, I didn't think this would be possible. It's a modest 2BR condo but it is so much larger than our apartment and we are slowly settling in. Sweetpea finally has her own room and we have lots of space for storage. My dad installed dark, laminate wood floors for us and it's becoming our own.

Here's her room...

the picture was one that was in my room as a baby

before she pulls everything off the shelves:)

Our room has been the slowest to come together...put together a cheap Target bookshelf finally for our photos, etc...

...and at Marshall's I found this cute way to store and show my necklaces...kind of wish I had gotten two since I still have more hanging in the closet...

Our favorite part of the condo was the incredibly high ceilings which make it seem larger. Here's our living room - kitchen before...

...and after decorated for Christmas...

We are happy here!

In my next post I'll share my scrapbook pages from the past year. There aren't many...but a few. I got the urge to scrap last week and it had been a long time. Even before Ellie was born I just wasn't feeling like scrapping for a good year. But I think I'm back!

Happy Thursday!

long time no see

'
This little monkey has been keeping me busy. That's why I haven't updated since AUGUST! Yikes! I used to be so good about blogging almost everyday. Sharing projects, photos, ideas. Reading other blogs and commenting. She is 11 months old now and I finally feel like I'm getting a better balance. Working 2 jobs, taking care of her, spending time with my husband, housework, there aren't enough hours in the day. But I've been committing myself to going to a knitting group on sundays, taking some time to do a project of some sort after she goes to bed. Though truthfully, I often crash on the couch at 7pm and watch bad tv.

And for the past 4 days my little sweetpea has had a stomach bug. I'm forcefeeding her formula, water, anything and she is. not. having. it. Today she might be turning a corner I hope. I'm on Day 2 of using sick time from work and Day 4 of being stuck in this house.

We'll make it.

Now...while she's napping I'm hoping to make the most of this sick day and check out other long-lost sites I've been missing. Maybe later or tomorrow I'll post some of the few projects I have been able to do lately!

Happy Wednesday!

monday gratitude

Today I am grateful for...

1. my little girl
2. sundays with my family
3. hot decaf coffee
4. cool summer mornings and warm afternoons
5. the beginnings of fall full of fresh starts
6. our new condo to get ready
7. knitting
8. my friends
9. health
10. books
11. hair elastics...they make my life easier;)
12. pinterest for ideas
13. more sleep
14. money to pay the bills
15. aqua blue
16. baby laughs
17. photos to remember moments

hello

I realize I've missed an entire month of updating my blog. I used to be so good about writing almost daily and loved showing art projects, decorating my apartment, life, etc. Life itself has been so busy I just haven't.

And that's ok with me for now.

Though I would like a little more time for me I have to say. Life has gotten into more of a routine and I think it's more possible now for me to do that. I have been able to knit a bit more when she's napping. She doesn't need to fall asleep on me anymore. She's been able to fall asleep in her crib at 7ish which gives me some time before I crash. Though I have found that on nights before work...most of my night is spent getting things ready for the next day! Not liking that too much.

 I hope to post some current projects soon. We are going to be closing on a condo next friday. I'm so excited and so nervous! I have all sorts of ideas on how to decorate on a budget. Baby girl will finally have a room I can decorate. My dad is going to build her a bookshelf and I'm hoping to get some help sewing her some curtains I found on Pinterest.

Speaking of.

Pinterest is addicting!

So hopefully if you stay tuned I'll have some fun stuff to post soon! But here are some photos of the month of June...

Ellie - 4 months - thinking carefully

first family portrait with Mt.Katahdin in background

pretty dress for father's day - grampy picked out this dress

pretty girl

hello donald

overdue gratitude

Today I am grateful for...

• baby laughter!
• my thoughtful husband planning a perfect 1st Mother's Day.
• the fact that I'm employed and can afford the basics and some extras.
• condo/house shopping. I never thought we'd get to.
• my parents.
• my "little" sister.
• potato salad
• daisies
• bad tv...housewives of wherever, etc.
• long weekends in the summer.
• warm days.
• rainy days inside.
• my laptop.
• chocolate chip cookies.

Happy Monday!

a walk in spring

Took a walk a few weeks ago with my dad, brother, and baby Ellie. My leave is up next week from my art therapy job. I don't want to go back:( So I'm trying to soak up every minute I can!

hello there

spring green and robins egg blue



my dream house in the distance

my favorite place