The Last Week- This is long!

So, it's been about a week since I last posted. I made myself take a break so that I could sew for the craft show this past weekend. Anyway, let me share a few things that have happened before the craft show.

The weather has been wonderful for the past several weeks. Here are some pictures of my little gardener! Isn't she adorable? A few days before this Eric had her in the carrier while he did some work to get ready for spring. She headed straight to the pot when we went outside.

She looks like she is talking to Lilly in this picture.

Showing off her dirty hands.

Playing in the backyard with her toy that was at Grandpa & Grandma's house before they moved into their motor home. Her hair looks wet because of the sunscreen I put on her.

I was on the computer while I was waiting for Elise to finish eating lunch. I looked over and this is what I saw. She has never done this before. She was eating yogurt covered pears and cheerios.

Elise is walking like a champ! She walks all over the house and sometimes she even tries to run! It's so cute! She has even started to stand up without pulling up on anything! Whenever I tell people she is walking, they can't believe it!

Here is Elise modeling one of my new products, a Reversible Snap Pinafore Dress!

Here is the back. I also have a pattern for ruffle butt bloomers. I will have pictures of the bloomers soon! I didn't take any pictures of the reverse fabric. Eric will be taking better pictures soon!

Here is another one. This one is the next size. I have them from 0-24 months.

I think I may add another snap, so there isn't as much of the back showing. I love how versitile these are! Like the pillowcase dress, you can wear it like this with bloomers. You can also wear a t-shirt, or long sleeved shirt, or with jeans! They can be worn all year round!

Here a few pictures of Loopy Lovies that I made for the craft show. Here is a girl one.

Here is a little boy one. These are approximatly 12x12.

I decided to make some smaller ones as well. Here is one of the girl Mini Loopy Lovies.

Here is one of the boy ones as well. These are approximatly 6x6. These are great for younger babies. They are the perfect size for them to hold on to.

On a negative note, I have also learned that my Grandpa is not doing well. A couple of years ago, he was diagnose with prostate cancer. They have been fighting it ever since. In the fall the learned that it had spread to several other areas of his body. They are still fighting. He has been in quite a lot of pain, he has been throwing up, getting bloody noses and sleeping a lot. Please keep him in your prayers.

My sister had a TIA around Thanksgiving. It is sort of like a really small stroke. They found a hole in her heart and were planning on having it fixed. However, her insurance refuses to cover it because the procedure is still considered experimental. Last week, my sister's cardiologist call her to say that he found a company to donate the device that would fix the whole, one of our local hospitals has agreed to allow the procedure to be done at no cost and the cardiologist has agreed to do the procedure for free as well! God is SO good! Please pray that everything will go smoothly.

On Friday, Eric, Elise and I will be heading to Colorado Springs. We have been thinking of moving there for about a year now. We will stay with a friend of my sister and brother-in-law. Eric will be looking for a job and we will be scoping out the area for good places to live as well. It is also somewhat of a vacation! Please keep us in your prayers. That God would open doors if this is a step we are to take. That Eric would find a job he would enjoy and everything would fall into place.

That is all for now.

Business

It's been pretty crazy the last week or so! I will have a LONG update tomorrow.

Blog Troubles

I'm having a hard time getting my pictures to upload. Once I figure that out I will post some cute pictures of Elise, my Little Gardner! Will be busy for the next week. Getting ready for the craft show next weekend! If you think about, pray that I will gets lots made, that I won't be overwelmed, and that it is all worth it in the end! Thanks!

Fun With Avocado

Monday, Elise and I ran some errands. Nothing exciting really happened. She fell while walking and hit her head on a corner. You can see the bruise in the picture below. When your children get hurt, you feel like an awful parent. We tried to ice it, but it's pretty difficult to keep ice on a nine month old's head. The picture below is of Elise eating lunch today. She was eating avocado and enjoying it. Tonight, Elise and I met up with my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and nephew to celebrate my sis-in-law's birthday. She has never met Elise because my brother-in-law & sister-in-law seperated just before she was born and recently divorced. It was great to see her! I need to go, so I can watch LOST now.

Busy Weekend

Saturday, my in-laws had a downsizing sale. When I say downsizing, I mean getting rid of EVERYTHING! They are moving into a motor home and traveling all over the U.S.! They did really well. So well in fact, that they had to get chairs out of their motor home, because they sold everything else.

Elise has been doing SO well with falling asleep on her own. Last night it took less then 15 minutes and tonight it took less than 5. Seriously! She didn't even move from where I laid her in the crib!

Today, we went to church. We really like I our church! We have been doing a series called The Gospel in Everyday Life. It has been so good. Today, the sermon was about reconciliation, specifically racial reconciliation. We were based in Ephesians 2.

Bedtime

I know, I know, 2 blogs in one day. However, I really wanted to share this amazing bit of information.

I know I should have done this a long time ago, but we decided tonight that we would the night that we would let Elise fall asleep on her own. I knew I couldn't do 100% letting her cry it out. The other day I read an article that sounded doable. Here is a quick rundown of what the article said: Lay them in their crib, give them a pat, tell them you love them and leave the room. Wait 5 minutes and if they are still crying, go back in, give another pat and say it's time to go to sleep and leave the room again. Each time you leave, you are suppose to add 5 minutes, before going in again.

Now, I'll admit, I had my doubts! I didn't think this would work, but I would give just about anything a try. I haven't been getting a whole lot of sleep, because Elise has been waking up A LOT in the night. We did everything as above. We both put her to bed, then, after 5 minutes, Eric went in to check on her. Did the pat, goodnight and left the room. After 10 minutes, she was out! It took a total of 15 minutes! That's it!

New Camera & Nice Weather

So, a couple of weeks ago, I got a new camera. There wasn't really anything wrong with my old one, but I was having problems capturing non-fuzzy pictures of my VERY moble child! It's been a lot of fun capturing adorable pics!

Here are a couple from yesterday when we went outside. The weather has been SO nice and Elise loves being outside. She loves to play with/follow her puppy! This first picture, she is watching Lilly!

She was heading straight for my camera in this picture.

It's been interesting getting videos because as soon as she sees the camera she charges straight for it. I've been getting some major up close and personal clips! I'll have to post a few soon.

When we were in Arkansas visiting some friends, we went to a consignment sale and got some super cute summer clothes for Elise. I bought these shorts and they are SO cute on her! I was laughing from the moment I put them on her. I don't think they are going to make it to summer however! They are already rather snug on her behind. I love her chubby little legs!

Her face in this one is just priceless! Again, she's headed directly to the camera!

Life

Friday, Elise turned 9 months old. We also had her nine month check-up. She weighs 17.6 lbs and is 27 3/4 inches long. That is the 43rd percentile for her weight and the 39th for her height. She loves her doctor! He is such an amazing doctor! Elise is in the cries unless she has Mommy stage. When Dr. E. held her, she just looked at him with a big grin.

Saturday we went to the Zoo. We had fun! Elise was asleep when we first got there, but the birds woke her up. She liked looking at all the animals. I can't wait to take her again when she is older. She even made a new friend:

On Sunday, we took the pictures that I posted last night. Eric hasn't done as many photo shoots, because it is hard to keep a walking nine month old to stay in one place for long!

Monday & Tuesday, we just chilled at home. Elise loves to walk all over the house. She loves spending time in the kitchen with her new fridge toy. You can put a letter in the dog house and it sings a little song telling you what sounds it makes. It also sings the alphabet.

On Wednesdays we go to Kindermusik. Elise LOVES it! She sings with us and it is SO cute! She has been the youngest and the only girl until recently. A little 4 month old little girl started coming with her mom a couple of weeks ago, so it's been nice for Elise. Even though Elise is younger there is a little boy who is 16 months and Elise is walking more than him. I've been meaning to take pictures, but it is difficult because we do everything with them.

Tonight we are heading to Grandpa & Grandma's for dinner and sorting through stuff in the attic. They are selling their house and moving into a motor home so they can travel. They are having a get rid of everything sale this Friday & Saturday. If you live in Tyler/Whitehouse be sure to come check it out.

New Motivation

Okay, so I've been newly motivated to blog. It will be good for my family. Since they all live in Michigan. They are missing out on Elise's everyday growth. This will hopefully give them some insight!

The Hubby took some Nine Month pictures of Elise on Sunday. I have the most beautiful/precious daughter. God has truly blessed me!