sewing project

Give me some grace, this is my first sewing project that I've written about.  First know, I don't pretend that I know how to sew.  I find sewing to be really useful, but also pretty challenging.  How do you get the darn thing to go straight?  Anyway, I've made a few things; pillow covers, a couple skirts, hemmed a few dresses, shortened some dress straps, and made a little organizer for Oliver's toys in the car...none of those projects could I explain.  However, today I made something so simple that I do believe anyone could make it.  It's not actually tutorial worthy, really you could just look at the picture and make it...that's what I did.  But I'm wordy, so let me explain....

I made a little carriers for Oliver and I to put our toothpaste, toothbrush, and other daily essentials inside. This little carrier keeps the wet toothbrush away from other items like makeup and such.  Plus it's made from a washcloth so when the trip is over we can wash it and it will be ready for next time and it won't gross up the inside of any bags.  

First off my inspiration can be found here.   $10, girl,  you've got to be joking! 

Also, sorry for the photos, they were taken with my phone.  

Supplies
washcloths
ribbon or something to tie it shut
sewing machine
scissors

Fold the washcloth, inside out
Pin to hold
Then sew up each side
On the second side sneak your ribbon in (or hand sew it in later)
Turn it back the right way

 Upside down, errr sorry
I put my stuff in then placed pins where I wanted the pockets
Took the stuff out and sewed a line from bottom to top
to create the pockets

 

Put the stuff back in and tied it shut

This little project could easily be free, but we purchased new washcloths from Target for 3.99 each so it cost us about $8 for both. 

3 year check up

Oliver likes to think he is shy, or maybe he is shy, or maybe he thinks he is being cute, I don't know.  What I do know is that when someone speaks to him he will usually turn away and smile or squint his eyes shut really tight, or drop his head down.  Sometimes it's a combination of all three, try picturing it, it's hilarious.  

The waiting room at the doctor's office

me- Oliver the doctor is going to say "what's your name?" When she says that you need to say your name loud and proud, not putting your head down.  Can you practice?  What's your name?
him- Oliver!
me- She might say "how old are you?" Can you tell her how old you are.  Say it loud and proud.
him- I three.  (holding up some jumble of fingers)
me- Okay buddy when she asks you a question just answer it, no head down.  You can do it.
him- I do it.
me- great

We continue waiting and he picks up a magazine with a bodybuilder guy on the front
him- This guy naked
me- No, he has his pants on, he just isn't wearing a shirt.  Naked is when you have no clothes.
him- He forgot his shirt?
me- I think so
him- Maybe his shirt in the wash
me- You might be right

In the doctor's office

doctor- Hi Oliver, how are you?  Can I have a high five.
him- head down
doctor- Wow, look at the helicopter on your shirt.  What color is that?
him- squinty eyes

This carries on for a few more questions.  Finally, she asks about some zoo animals and he cracks and speaks to her.

The doctor asks me some questions, that I answer loud and proud, because Oliver is really someone special and I'm proud.

Can he count?  Yes.
Does he recognize any letters?  Most all of them. (Damn lowercase j)
Colors? Yep, finally.
Potty training?  We are getting there.
Does he eat a variety of food?  Um, yes most defiantly. 
Does he like to drink?  Ha! More than anyone I've ever met, ever.

Oliver weighs in at 30.2 pounds, about the same as 6 months ago, the doctor says that's fine and normal and lands him in the 25th percentile.  A year and a half ago he wasn't even on the chart for weight, so it's a win.  

Oliver measures in at 39 inches tall, about 2 inches more than last time, and that lands him in the 75th percentile.  A year and a half ago he was in the 3rd, what a string bean.  

road trip

That's right.  Instead of flying to Massachusetts Oliver and I will be driving, we are awesome like that.  Why drive?  Come on friends, it's way more adventurous.  Would I drive out every year, no but this year we are and we're getting excited. 

Oliver is excited to get trucks to honk at him and I'm excited to see some friends and fun places. Here is the itinerary...

Day 1 - St. Louis.  Do something awesome, and see some good friends.

Day 2 -Columbus, OH.  Check out Jack Hanna's Zoo (granted it's under 100) and stay with a friend I haven't seen in...umm ages.

Day 3 -Lancaster, PA.  Hang with some Amish people, ride in a buggy, eat whoppie pies (they hail from PA) and visit some awesome looking model train place.  I think we will stay at a bed and breakfast.

Day 4 -Brooklyn, NY.  Not sure what we are going to do, but I'm sure our friends will have some great ideas. 

Days 5-8 - BOSTON!  Home of all things wonderful including an eyebrow wax!

Days 9-11 -Vermont.  Camping with college girls.  Oliver is going to love it.  We "practice" camping at home.  "Now I will cook my hot dog on this stick, after I eat it I will cook marshmallows on my stick."  Pretty much.

Days 12-21 -Marshfield, MA.  Beach time!  Family and friends time! 

Day 22 -Upstate NY.  Seeing friends and family

Day 23 -Niagara Falls, Canada.  Exploring the falls and staying at a Marriott that over looks the falls.  Ya for cashing in a free night's stay.  I thank the extremely overpriced Marriott Grand Hotel in Moscow for making this evening possible, and free! 

Day 24 -Cleveland.  Mostly just sleeping as we are going to spend most of the day in Canada.

Day 25 -Chicago.  IKEA!!!!! and maybe some fun Chicago thing, but mostly IKEA!!!

Day 26 -Home

Days 27-unknown -Recovery. 

We are leaving on July 5th.  This upcoming week you can look forward to adventures in getting ready to road trip.  No worries, my car has already been inspected and repaired, and it is as ready as it's going to be. 

My many hours on the road look like this



Instead of this. 

Tomorrow Oliver has his three year well kid check up.  I'm excited to see how much he has grown, we haven't been to the doctor since November (when he jumped out the window).  He is fearless, but he doesn't get sick, I'll take it. 

party recap

There is the birthday celebration and then there is the birthday party.  Oliver's birthday was May 31st.  Like last year, he woke up to balloons scattered around this room and blueberry muffins for breakfast.  

"I find the balloon, it my birthday"

Next stop the science and train museum.

After dinner Oliver got to open his presents from Grammy and Pop-pop, and his gift from us...a new bike.  A strider running bike.  No peddles, no training wheels, not so much tipping over.  It's about learning to balance first. 
 

Oliver's birthday party was Sunday, June 3rd.  We invited some friends and family over for some unstructured backyard fun.  There were balls to kick and throw.  There were bubbles to chase and pop.  I scored a few compliments about not having structured games and activities.  Just sitting around having fun with kids.  Next post, party food!

bubble pool with a bunch of things the kids
could use to make bubbles
-fly swatter
-hula hoop
-paper plate holders
-bubble wands
-anything with a hole in it

bubbles from a kitty litter scooper
a NEW kitty litter scooper

best purchase, a bubble machine from target
$20 and 2 hours of bubble blowing fun, that didn't
leave me light headed!  I recommend rechargeable batteries
it needed 8AA and they only lasted those 2 hours.  We
charged them up again for more fun later in the week.

singing happy birthday




cupcakes & gifts

 

 

 

videos

I've been neglecting to post some of Oliver's videos here on the blog.  Enjoy a little live action Oliver....

Search Trisho182 on YouTube to see all of his crazy.

three

More party details to come.  For now just a few pictures of extreme cake enjoyment.  The picture in the white shirt is when he turned two and the blue shirt photos are from this year.  

call

I got a call today, a college buddy of Jim's who we haven't seen in about 5 years. We don't see many of our friends since not many live in Kansas. Anyway, he says "I know this is a hard topic for you, but we wanted to let you know we had a baby two weeks ago."

I knew it would happen eventually.

Let's be clear we adopted a kid because we wanted to adopt a kid. You had a bio kid because that's what you wanted...neither is challenging for me to deal with. I'm so happy for you. It's really exciting. Congratulations!

Now I wonder if others have hid their excitement from us because, for some reason, they think we can't handle it.

Bring on your baby news! I can indeed handle it. Though I do find myself a bit jealous of folks traveling to Russia, that part of the process was by far my favorite and I long to go back.