Open Sesame! (and a giveaway!)

The time has finally come! I am opening my Etsy Shop...TODAY! Bah! I can't tell you how excited I am! :) The shop is up and running and now I get to share it with you!

Here's the story behind my shop; "Rooted Love, Handmade with Heart"...
This little shop was conceived on the eve of my little one's birthdate. I was sewing a car seat canopy for her and getting ready in the last days leading up to her birth. She was due on June 8th and she came just one day early. Luckily for her, I finished the canopy in the nick of time!

I was up late, pregnant with swollen feet, sitting at my sewing machine, slaving away. No one was making me do this, I just wanted a cute cover for my baby girl. And, as all pregnant women think, I thought to myself, "I have to get EVERYTHING done before she gets here." Haha. Well, at least that made for a productive night. I whipped up my canopy and had only attached one of the three buttons when I decided to call it quits for the night. I needed some rest and my husby made me stop working. I finished the canopy and tied the straps onto the carseat. It looked perfect! I didn't end up sleeping that night...instead, I went into labor and our baby girl was born the next day.

I loved using this for my daughter and started making them as gifts for friends. Those friends kept telling me..."people keep asking me where I got this...you should sell these!"

Sew here I am ;) I've been given great encouragement by my husby, friends, community, and family and have decided to go for the gold! Thanks so much! I'm in the mindset that I'll try this and see how it goes...if it fails...it fails. And at least I put it out there and tried :) Either way...I'm going to be joyful! 

CELEBRATE!
In order to celebrate the grand opening of the shop I've decided to do a few giveaways! As I was preparing for this grand opening I asked a few AMAZING friends if they would be interested in doing a giveaway on the blog. And lucky for YOU, they were excited and happy to help!!! These women are talented, Proverbs 31 women, who love Jesus and love their craft (sewing, crocheting, knitting, cooking, etc.) I would love for you to "meet" them and enjoy their handmade goods. This week I'll have two other giveaways...so keep coming back and tell your friends!

Today's giveaway is from the Home Story blog & Etsy shop, with my sweet friend, Jessi Burke.

Jessi is a twenty-something wife to Jared, and mama to two sweet boys. She loves Jesus, beautiful design, and decor on a budget. Her blog is concentrated on sharing great ideas that she comes across, new DIY projects, and frugal home decor. Her home is beautiful and crafty, and she's always looking for ways to make things herself when it's more affordable to do so. I love reading her blog, hearing her heart, and being inspired by the creativity that God has gifted her with. And she has chickens and a coop...that's pretty sweet ;) Please check out her blog and facebook page!

Today she is giving away a sweet little creation..."The Newsie"

The "newsie" toddler backpack is the first of 3 original designs that will be available soon in Jessi's etsy shop. It features a zipper closure, side pocket, and adjustable straps with contrast piping on the flap and pocket. Coming soon are the "scout" and "prepster" styles which are equally charming!

Also to be available in the newly re-opened shop are custom Christmas stockings!

all designs copyright Jessi Burke

Go ahead and enter to win! You have three ways of entering: 
1. Leave a comment here with how you are going to use this backpack.
2. "Like" Home Story on Facebook
3. "Like" Rooted Love on Facebook
The giveaway will be open until Tuesday at Midnight (EST) and the winner will be announced on Wednesday! Also...please tell your friends :) Thanks!

love love love!
Meg

a Rafflecopter giveaway

the quarterly: 15 months

Baby bear,

The monthly photo is back by popular demand haha ;) After your 1st birthday people asked me if I would keep up with the monthly photos...I wanted to, really, I did :) but, it just didn't happen. We took this one, a week after you turned 15 months...but it still counts ;) and I figured if I couldn't keep up with the monthly, I could try for a quarterly photo...so it worked out perfectly that you are now fifteen months old! ;)

A lot has happened since you turned one! You now have 4 teeth...you love to use them to eat your food, and occasionally you try to bite mama in your anger or defiance...ahh! More on that in a minute. You started showing an interest in walking around 14 1/2 months. It started with short distances and a few steps between mama and papa or other friends...and as you got the hang of it, your desire for walking became greater. You practiced on your own quite a bit, and it was cute to see you so determined! Now you are fully walking, with a few stumbles here and there. 

You definitely have a lot of energy and like to play with other kids. You're just learning how to interact with other kids right now and it is interesting to watch you play :) There are lots of teachable moments during these play dates, where we usually get to talk about sharing toys, being gentle with baby's faces (and hair) and not screaming/demanding our own way. You and I are both new to this...I'm learning to parent and you're learning to be obedient to mama and God. It's definitely been challenging at times to know what is the right thing to do in each situation. I'm definitely tempted to give into caring too much about what other people think of me as I try to discern the right response for each situation that we find ourselves in. Prayer is usually a  great start. For my heart and for yours. I'm reading "Shepherding a Child's Heart," by Tedd Tripp right now and I am excited to learn more and be equipped with how to shepherd you well :)

Your favorites right now include:

toys-little teapot from Siena...you carry it around with you in one hand and have a tea cup in the other

food-you're eating a lot of healthy snacks, but not as many meals...usually you'll eat a whole peach each day...and string cheese 

music-you love the xylophone and the little drum at Siena's house...you also love to worship! whenever there is worship music playing, at the Sunday church gathering, or on the radio...you raise your hands and it's the cutest thing!

prayer-you know when we're praying and you fold your hands together! I think you just picked this up from watching people? and then every time we say "AMEN!" you clap!

words-for a little while you were saying "yeahhh" for everything and it was so cute! "Did you just bite Mama?" "yeahhh." "Are you sorry?" "yeahhh." "Are you going to do that again?" "yeahhh." haha. And within the last couple weeks...na na na! Oi vei! The No's are getting sassy :) We're working on it. This morning when I asked if she wanted cheesy eggs, she had an enthusiastic YEAH! So...there's hoping ;) Haha.

place- you love going around the zoo, watching the fish in the pygmy hippo exhibit and sitting next to gorillas. You smile whenever I point towards the elephants and make the elephant sound with my arm as the trunk...you know the gesture? ;)

Right now, you and I (and your papa), are in a new phase of life...you're more active and inquisitive, and we're navigating this whole parenting thing. At times it has been difficult figuring out how and when to discipline you (ie. in Trader Joe's when you throw a fit, bite me on the shoulder and then scream and arch your back, just for example). Ahhh! Part of it, like I said before, is me giving in to the approval of others...and desiring their approval of me as a great mom. I am not a perfect parent. As we were reminded in one of our Red Door Church parenting classes, "There are no perfect parents. There are no perfect children. Just one perfect Father and one perfect Son." Phew...that's a relief ;) So I get to shepherd you, and point you to Jesus, and I get to look to Jesus too :) this is good news!

We love you so much baby bear! Until next time...

love love,

Mama Meg

A few extra cute photos from the past months:

Daddy brushing your little teeth before bed time

 A little play date with your friend Siena Joy!

 Grandpa Bockman feeding you some tasty yogurt

 A little sick or tired? You fell asleep on me within five minutes! This never happens!

Just eating some snacks at Fred's house after the epic pool party celebrating 2 years of Red Door church!

Your morning routine: tousle those locks, sign for food, and head to the fridge!

Celebrating 3 years of marriage with a night at the Old Globe theater!

we work well together :)

Anniversary weekend and our first time to Cabrillo National Monument

Mission beach and kite flying...oh no! E may have knocked Meredith out..

Favorite spot at the zoo...look at all the fish!

the yearly: one! year old

Dearest baby bear-Eleanorcita-Elegator-eNew-mamas,

Today is a BIG day! You are ONE! I remember your actual birth day, just like it was yesterday! Almost every detail is fresh in my mind. We were so excited (and a little nervous) to finally be heading to the birth center to meet YOU! You are such a blessing and a joyFULL little baby/girl...we had no idea what life would be like with a little one. We knew it might be tough, with lots of sleepless nights, but I don't think we could have ever imagined how blessed we would be.We've even witnessed you being a blessing to others...bringing joy and laughter in times of both happiness and sorrow. The elderly people (including your great grandparents) definitely lit up when they would see you and your big smile. During the funerals and memorials of both your great grandparents (this past April and May) you brought smiles and laughter to the family.

There were lots of momentous occasions this past month. None of which will be recorded sadly (mama forgot to charge the camera battery!)You've grown a bit this last month, and your hair is coming in curly!!! WOOHOO! I think (and hope!) that it will stay that way ;) but your papa thinks that is wishful thinking. Ah well ;) We shall see. 

We put the baby gates up last month. This month you are all over the place! The park is more of an attraction to you now. You love the slide and the swings. You start giggling uncontrollably when on the swings and at other random times...bringing such joy! You are always pulling yourself up onto things and standing. You're slowly getting interested in walking, mostly with the help of mama and dada or your trusty green dino.

You must be growing a lot...because you sleep A LOT and eat A LOT! You sleep 12-14 hours a night, with at least a 1-3 hour nap during the day :) And you eat all of the food that we serve you, plus "second breakfast" or "second dinner" aka half of whatever mama's having. :) That's okay though...we like to share! You love to smile (still with a toothless grin) and play games with people. You learned how to sign "all done" but sometimes you only do one hand and you use that as a "hello" wave also. Some of mama's friends think you're doing the beauty queen wave ;) You love love LOVE being around people and getting their attention...I don't know where you got that one from haha. You're learning to share the spotlight, but with other babies around you get a little fussy...oh no! haha...we'll  have to ease you into the idea of siblings, but it will be good for you ;)

We're pretty sure you also said your first word, other than mama or dada. The other night you were ready for dinner and you started getting fussy. You started saying "mama mom Megan". Twice. WHAT?! Megan? Bah! You will only call me mama or Mom ;) Maybe it was a fluke, but papa said he heard it too :)

We just love you to pieces! Our hearts have been expanded and stretched in so many ways with you in our lives :) In this past year God has shown us so much JOY through you. Your name means "God is light" or "light of God" and we've definitely seen that in this past year. We are learning how to be more like Christ and  how to be that light of God as we raise and nurture you. We pray and hope that you will grow up to be a godly little lady and one day, woman! (like the Proverbs 31 woman :)

Unfortunately, we can't keep up this routine of monthly photos any more though ;) you are too wiggly! I'll try to keep your photos and life stories updated so that you can look back on it later!

lots of love to you,

your mama (Megan) and dada (Ryan) ;)

ps.  I guess there were a few shots from this last month :) Some of them were taken by your auntie for her photography class ;)

"No one will notice if I eat this...will they?"

Mullen Family - May 2012

Great Uncle Paul and Eleanor looking at the rhinos

Eleanor and mama at the zoo on her birthday day

the monthly: 11 months old!

hey little elegator!

The day you turned 10 months old you finally found an interest in crawling. You started getting up on your hands and knees more, and rocking back and forth. You never actually crawled too much, scooting was faster for you. You also started pulling yourself up onto things. You've been hiding your strength this whole time ;) You pulled yourself up to a standing position in your crib and freaked me out! I saw you on the baby monitor, and during your "nap" you were happily standing, looking out in to your room. Now that you've found a new trick, you like to practice it every chance you get. Most nap times I can be sure to find you hanging on to the crib railing.

You still like to bounce your head back and forth, mainly with music. You've also started singing/humming from time to time, in the bath and when you're eating, and it's the cutest thing. We think you're going to be musically inclined...who knows ;) you didn't get it from your mama (or papa). You like to clap too!

By mid-month you were crawling around quite a bit, and even found the stairs! You scaled the stairs in no time at all, and without help of mama (although, I did stay right behind as the safety net ;). You managed to make it up the stairs twice in one day...what a great workout! We purchased our baby gates that same day. Now we'll teach you how to climb down safely and then we'll be good to go!

You love your sleep, little snoozer ;) Most nights you're out for 12-13 hours! and you have a nap or two during the day. So, you're still sleeping more hours than you're awake...but that's okay, you're a growing little lady!

It's the cutest thing to see you meet an older person and give them a proper handshake. You just smile and laugh. You also like to wave and sometimes mix that with your signing "all done"...when you're finished with a meal, we've been trying to teach you the sign for "all done". We're not sure if you actually know what it means, or if you just like to shake your hands and wave :)

You also really like your books (as seen in the photo). That book, The Grown Up Day, was one of your grandma's books when she was a little girl. You can't read yet, but you sure do like to sort through your books and occasionally give them a little love bite.

"Mama" and "Dada" or "Papa" come out of your mouth on a more regular basis now...but we're still not sure if you actually know what those words mean, or if you just like making noise! :) You are a little talker and you like to sing and hum too.

We are retiring the outfit that you are wearing in this photo. You got a good 5+ months out of it, but now it's a tad too small (Size 6 months). Your big cloth diaper booty makes these shorts a little small...ahh! :) But the outfit was just too cute to stop wearing. Please forgive me ;)

You are one month away from being one year old! And still...no teeth. That's okay :) I like your gummy smile and curly locks of hair :) You're a keeper. Your birthday party plans are in the works...my mind is full of ideas...but I just don't want to get too caught up in it (or stressed) :) We know that you will have a fun time (as long as you catch a snooze beforehand) ;) You are LOVED!

lots of love,
Mama

ps. here are some photos from this past month:

 Bath time in the kitchen sink at Great Grandpa Bockman's house

 Your 1st Easter

 Pool day with Ezra-you refused to get out!

At Piatti's in La Jolla, celebrating Mama's birthday (early)

the monthly: 10 months old!

dearest Eleanor,

You are ten months old! We took this photo, in your PJs, after we got back from Grandma and Grandpa Bockman's house. You had a long day! We got smart though, and this time we brought the pack-n-play so that you could take a nap during the visit.

You are eating three meals a day, with mama and papa. I am so thankful that you are open to trying lots of foods, and even mama's spicy turkey chili! We welcomed this transition to solid foods because it meant easier food prep (mostly) and more fun for your taste buds! You also take one or two naps a day, depending on your growth spurts or daily activities. You continue to bring so much JOY to us. We love love LOVE you!

You have been so active in your crib at night. It's always fun for your papa and I to put you down to sleep and find you (on the video monitor) in the complete opposite corner of the crib later that night. Other times you sleep solid like a rock. You generally get 12 hours of sleep a night...I don't have any complaints about that! We (mostly mama) like to be stealthy and plant kisses on you when you are sleeping, without waking you up. Most of the time you stay asleep ;)

Scooting is your main form of transportation these days. You still like to keep your right leg raised as your left leg does all the work in pushing and scooting you along. Dad thinks you will be a lefty, just like him :) You get up on your hands and knees and trick us into thinking you'll do a crawl, but you end up just scooting around instead. It seems to be fastest for you. You have definitely been a great help in cleaning our kitchen floors too ;) Who knew they could be so dirty so often?! You just scoot scoot and attract dust to your belly. Next time I'll attach a swiffer to your onesie so we can both be more efficient :)

You love your activity table with all the music, Spanish, and noise! We stand you next to it and you love to close and open the little computer...it's super cute, and sometimes obnoxious at the same time haha. We've been going to the park a few times during the week and you have actually started liking the swings. At first it wasn't really interesting for you. Your eyes would squint because of the sun, and when I pushed you back your face looked as if your stomach dropped...you looked so scared! Now, you giggle! We've even done a "party swing" where you sit with another one of your little friends sitting with you, back to back.

You love to smile :) Almost all of the elderly people we come in contact with try to get your attention or make you smile or do a trick. I love to see their smiles as you look in their direction...so presh!

The months are flying by and you are growing so fast! I probably forgot some milestones from this last month (ah well)...you're just so busy! We LOVE you so much!

love you lots,
Mama

ps. notice a few changes around here? :) lots of exciting things happening! I have a friend helping me with graphic design and we are working to get a logo for my little business (you rock Melissa!) I'll keep you posted and let you know when there is an official debut :)

the monthly: nine months old!

oh baby bear,

Today you are 9 months old! You sure have changed in this last month! You scoot and move quite a bit (as evidenced in your monthly photo...ha).We have to keep a close eye on you as you make your way around the house...your favorite spot has been the wall heater...oh no! The bottom of the heater has a convenient little door that you've already successfully opened several times. I know it looks fun, but it's dangerous! We're working on teaching you so that you don't get hurt :) You also like the fireplace and if you're not on the rug, we know where to find you! You sneak behind the recliner chair and tap on the fireplace glass...probably just checking out your reflection ;) cute as a button!

You love to sleep in the corners of your crib, all curled up with your pink blanket. When we go to get you from a nap, you are never found in the same position that we put you down in. You also like to pull on those bumper pads, using them as a little pillow for your head or as a way to boost yourself up to see out of your crib. It's cute. I feel like we just put those up, and now it's time to take them down already!

Your hair has grown a lot this past month. You can (finally) wear bows! I have 2 bows and 1 birdie clip (thanks Joanna!) for your hair. I need to make some more for your cute little hair do ;) Some days you have a little mohawk and look more like your papa. Other days, right after a bath, we can see those little curls like mama. I hope you keep the curls!

A few of your favorite toys, besides the fireplace and heater, are the little purple phone, your little play table with music, the toy house, and any board books we read to you. The musical toys always get you dancing and talking. Papa thinks your first word was "dada" but I don't think you've actually said a real word just yet. You like to mouth vowels, like "Oh" and "Ah". Your little friend Oliver goes by the nickname "O", so it seems like you calling for him from time to time...super cute!

You laugh a lot! It's fun to tickle you and get a reaction...you continue to bring us so much joy! You are such a happy baby and you sleep through the night (praise God!), most every night. The last couple nights though, you've woken up in a panic, crying and there has been no rhyme or reason to it. Perhaps another growth spurt? Teething? Haha...doubtful on the teething. There are no teeth in sight. :) Maybe by the tenth month?

love you lots baby bear!
your Mama bear

new business ventures? :)

I am a full-time employee as mama and wife...so what is this "new business" all about? Well, I may have some ideas up my sleeve (or whispers into my ear) about a few things that I could end up doing for a little extra work...or fun! I love being creative and love people. Enter "new business": photography and sewing baby things (mainly car seat canopies).

Last week I took photos for Sarah and Beau, as they were expecting their first baby boy. Sarah was ready for the baby to be here already...it was his due date after all. He wasn't budging. We took the photos and you can check them out here...Baby Oliver-Due Date Photo Shoot. We had so much fun walking around the neighborhood and taking photos in the nursery. The photos got a lot of positive feedback and compliments. Here are a few of my favorites...

The other business venture...sewing baby things :) Many people have been encouraging me to start-up my own etsy site or sell my handmade car seat canopies. I've been making them for baby shower gifts for friends, but haven't had the extra time (who has that anyways? :) to start-up a shop. If I'm going to do something I want to put my ALL in it :) That means, for now, as full-time mama, I want to make sure I'm putting my ALL in it :) and I think I have thus far. I know the etsy shop would require a LOT of time and energy to make it a success, etc. and that might take away from other responsibilities I already have. I've been sewing gifts thus far because it is handmade with heart (which I love!) and it's less expensive than products sold in the stores. More recently, I saw on The Baby Exchange facebook page, that they sell handmade baby items. I randomly decided to ask if they would sell my car seat canopies, thinking it's a long shot, and it looks like they might do it! :) We are currently discussing it. In the mean time I've already had two people (random strangers) ask me if I would make one for them. I also have some gifts on back order ;) sorry Erin...they are in the works...promise :)

Oliver's little car seat canopy

All that to say...I love my full-time job right now as Eleanor's mama and wife to my husby. I would also love the opportunity to bless others with photographs or baby items, on the side, for fun...but we'll just see how it goes or grows. I'll definitely keep you posted :) I'd love your feedback and prayers!

love, 

Meg

ps. a little preciousness to enjoy...

the monthly: Eight months old!

Oh Eleanor(cita),

You are growing up so fast. People are always saying "oh kids, they grow up so fast," and I know this is true...but wow! You have changed so much since you were first in my arms 8 months ago. You are mobile! Yesterday you finally figured out how to get from a sitting position to your tummy. Now I'm in big trouble! Gone are the days of just letting you hangout on a blanket while I run to the bathroom or fix something in the kitchen. But that's okay! I'm excited for the adventures to come as you explore...everything! You like to use the kitchen chairs as your personal jungle gym and you love putting shoes (and everything else) in your mouth...even Mama's nose and chin. 

You love being around people! You smile and reel them in with that toothless grin of yours. You also do this cute head tilt back and forth from side to side (see photo above...haha). The tilt varies in speed and people just die laughing. You even like to rock your head to the beat whenever there is music on in the background. I'm not sure where you got that cute trick, but I'm pretty sure we've reinforced it by mimicking it every time we see you! 

You also love spending time with your great Grandpa and the elderly ladies of the Rolando Community Council. I love seeing the elderly people light up when they see you...it brings them so much joy to see a happy baby!

This month you will have 4 new baby friends...and your little "cousin" Oliver, should be arriving any day now! Uncle Beau-Beau (who you can thank for the nickname Eleanorcita) and Aunt Sarah have been loving on you in preparation for their little man, and now the time has finally come! Aunt Sarah showed you how to clap just the other day and you just started doing it! When you are proud of yourself or happy, you start to clap and it's the cutest thing ever!

We have been truly blessed with you, little one! God has been so gracious with us! Everyone always comments on how you are such a "chill" baby, always pretty content (unless you're hungry!), and friendly as ever! That is all by God's grace! We can't take any credit for that :)

There are probably so many things I am forgetting, but until next month...I look forward to seeing more of your personality and exploring the world with you!

love you,

Mamacita

ps. more photos from this month:

you and your buddy Ezra

 playing with Amos

bear buddies, Lily and Eleanor

tilt that head! you look like you're stretching

quality time with great Grandpa

all smiles with Auntie Ang

hanging with papa after church

like mother, like daughter

I almost forgot about this gem! This set of photographs was given to my mom, in a cute frame for Christmas. The photo on the left is my mom and I (1 1/2 years old?) at the San Diego Zoo. On the right, Eleanor (6 1/2 months old) and I tried to recreate this same photo at the Zoo, on the skytram. She kept looking at papa, instead of me, and I kept looking down to get her attention. Ah, well! We tried! 

I really love that photo of my mom and I. My parents took us to the Wild Animal Park and the Zoo on a regular basis when we were kids. When I was younger I loved it! We would go during the winter and see the festival of lights and my mom would make sure we were dressed in snow clothes for riding sleds down the hill of fake snow (we live in San Diego...haha oh snow). As I grew up, I got bored (and lazy-too much walking!) and the zoo became one of my least favorite places (I can't even believe myself ugh haha).  Of course now, I LOVE the zoo and the Wild Animal Park (I refuse to call it Safari Park). Grandma Ransom gave us our passes last year and renewed them this year as a Christmas gift. I am looking forward to making many memories with our little family there!

Here are a few more shots from our Zoo day. Eleanor's been a few times now, and she is more and more interested (and awake) in the animals each time we go!

Family photo-My mom gave us a canvas print of this one :)

kisses, kisses!

There's that world famous PANDA in the background...being lazy, as usual.

Until next time...lots of love,

Megan

the monthly: (seven.months.old)

Oh sweet Babycakes,

This last month has gone by so fast! At the beginning of the month you were practicing sitting up on your own. You picked that up pretty quickly and moved (literally) right into army crawling. At first I called it crawling, but your Papa laughed and said, "that's not a crawl...a scoot, maybe." :) Needless to say, you are quite the mover, pulling yourself toward toys and making your way across the rug. You like my shoes, biting my chin, and playing with your toy phone. You are more alert and definitely more active. Leaving you in one place is a thing of the past. 

You can't tell in this photo, but today, you took a BIG tumble and rolled off mama and papa's bed. We laid you down like normal, and less than thirty seconds later, we heard a "THUD!". I was really scared! I found you on the ground, face down, arms and legs spread out. Major face plant, major fail! Sorry baby girl! You cried for about an hour and your nose was bleeding a little bit, but you were okay. You gave us a scare. We thought you might have broken your nose...but luckily you had just a little scrape, a small bruise, and a few tears. We prayed with you, held you tight in our arms, and then you fell asleep and napped for 2 1/2 hours. You smile every single time we say "Dear Jesus..." and start praying. That is the sweetest thing. We pray that you grow up and come to know and love Jesus just like we do!

We love you so much! We just had our first parenting class with our church and it gave us a lot to be thinking about and praying about! One thing that we were reminded in the class was that "There are no perfect parents. There are no perfect children. Just one perfect Father, and one perfect Son," (from the book Give them Grace). Phew! Just lots and lots of GRACE! I'm sure we'll all need reminding of this as you grow up and start to understand more and more :)

love love LOVE,

mama

p.s. you still love to do that cute trick, sometimes when you're mad and other times when you are super excited! it's presh. muah!

handmade with heart: a few Christmas gifts

Eleanor and I were sick the week before Christmas and a few days after, so blogging and updating on crafts and life stories hasn't been a huge priority :)

Eleanor passed out in my arms when she was sick...this rarely happens!

We are feeling much better, although Eleanor still has a runny/stuffy nose. We joke that "maybe her teeth are coming in" every time her nose is runny or if she randomly wakes up in the middle of the night. Still no teeth here. :)

There has been some scooting/army crawling action going on over here though.

She got herself situated under the recliner. This was the happy face before she realized she was stuck.

On to the real post with handmade gifts...here's a little snapshot of a few of the things I worked on for a few of the Christmas gifts. It was so much fun!

Crayon/Art Pack-handmade by me

Inspiration found via Pinterest (Hope Peterson)  

I looked online for free patterns, but only came across this blog that was selling a pdf pattern. I decided to make my own pattern and just "wing it" :) and this is what I came up with. I wanted to make a crayon holder for my niece who is 18 months old. On Christmas morning she opened lots of presents (Grandma definitely spoiled ALL of us ;) she even got a rock band Elmo! When she went to open our gift, I thought she'd just open it and toss it aside to get back to Elmo and Grover...but she didn't! She loved the crayons and paper and went straight to coloring...everything! Good thing those are washable crayons :) (you're welcome Jaime...haha). I loved the way this turned out and am looking forward to making more as gifts in the near future.

Owl calendar

I also made an Owl Calendar frame for all the grandparents. The photo above is Eleanor with Mister Owly and a monthly calendar print from My Owl Barn. For the last two years, the My Owl Barn blog has been creating these cute calendars. There are over 40 artists who participated this year, each contributing their cute owl drawing to the collection. When you go to the website you can select any of the drawings for whichever month you like, and then print! It's super easy, and super cute! I love this! I should probably have one of these printed for our house too...ha! Check it out if you get a chance!

Last up! Crochet-knot headband for my lovely special seester

Found on You Seriously Made That? blog

The DIY tutorial was free and easy! You can't go wrong there :) I think I'll make a few more, with more chains to make it a little bit longer. I also visited youtube to get a little help with re-learning how to crochet. I've had some great friends help me along the way already (Lindsey, Ang, Alysia). Can't wait to crochet again!

So there you have it...a few of the handmade (with heart) gifts from our Christmas! I may post a tutorial (if anyone's interested) for how I made the crayon pack. 

We had a great time celebrating the birth of Jesus with all of our families. We visited the Nativity Scenes on Euclid, ate amazing food and desserts, opened way too many presents, and enjoyed time with loved ones. I was definitely blessed just to have Ryan home for so many days in a row (he had 3 paid days off from work!). 

Christmas with the Ransoms, Moos & Mullens

Now it's 2012! I can't believe it! The time flew by so quickly! We rang in the new year with some close friends, watching Tron and raving with glow sticks and champagne. What a night :)

I'll be taking some time to reflect on the past year. Maybe I'll post some of those reflections here. We shall see ;) I'll also be posting some "What's for dinner?" recipes and the monthly photo/letter with miss Eleanor...so come back soon!