3 Weeks to Wean and Birthday Tales

David and I are going to an Encounter weekend that our church does every year. This means that Abigail is going to have her first stay away from Mama and Papa and for a whole weekend. This is why I have 3 weeks to wean. Well actually, it's 2 now, but I've formulating this post most of the week already. This week's goal is to eliminate the middle of the day nursing sessions (ie after her naps). Abigail is doing quite well, though I am more emotional than I expected. Who knew that I'd have issues with this? Probably everyone else who's had to wean their babies. We are surviving! Oh and teething... check out all of my baby's pearly whites!

Abigail's birthday was great. It started out with Mama and Papa singing her awake with a soft "Happy Birthday" song. We don't often go get her together and don't wake her with singing, so she liked that alot. David had to work so off he went and Abigail and I were picked up (a sacrifice of high proportion from my dear friend) to go to Abby's little friend, Aisha's birthday party. Aisha turned 1 exactly a week before Abigail and I'm sure they're going to be great friends! The party was great fun and Abigail even got a mini cupcake with a candle and was honored to be included in the birthday wishes. There are some great pictures of all the children - of which I have none because I forgot my camera. As we left the party, Abigail was given a lovely little present and loot bag with a balloon flower. Such a delight for her! After her nap we had some playtime which included funny hand to mouth songs:

Abigail was given some birthday money and had a gift certificate left over from Christmas and so we picked up a cabinet for all her toys and books. David assembled it on Tuesday evening. When Abigail woke up the next morning and I showed her the cabinet and that she was allowed to open it herself she said over and over "oh wow! oh wow! oh wow!" It's a hit! The cabinet is actually designed for linens, but it works well for this purpose.

The top section is full of older children's books for when Abigail is older. Under that is a drawer for her coloring books/crayons etc and below is her cupboard with board books and a few toys (we switch out her toys frequently - less toys to play with at one time means less to pick up and she gets different toys often to play with so it keeps them interesting).

We have lots of my books from when I was younger, including classics like the Little House on the Prairie series, Anne of Green Gables series, the Mandie series plus we added books like Peter Pan, Robinson Crusoe, Swiss Family Robinson and more. I hope to add The Wedding Planner's Daughter  books by the time she's ready for them.

In the evening we had our housegroup to attend and Abigail was given another lovely little present and lit up the room with this smile:

Thank you for all the birthday phone calls and felicities through facebook etc. I treasure them all in my heart and will tell her all about it someday!

My Baby is 1!

A year ago today, I got to meet the little girl who has changed my life forever. She truly is a delight and a joy and we are so proud of her. Abigail Coralee Gingras, what a year it has been!

(click on images to enlarge)

A Poncho and New Jewelry

David bought me 4 balls of the softest yarn for Christmas and I decided to try making a poncho. I made it with two rectangles (hdc) attached together adding fringe and though it's a bit rough - being my first try on a bigger project, I like it. It's warm and cozy and super soft. Youtube helped me out with learning different crochet stitches and how to do the tassels. I am very visual so this turned out to be the best way for me to learn.

I wore this out on a date with David last Tuesday and we came across this necklace that looks so great with my new poncho that David bought it for me immediately.

This lovely spoon ring David also bought for me while we were in Edmonton. Our friends from the Antique Photo Parlour brought them in from Cuba and I wanted a new one since mine (that I also got in Cuba) has seen better days. It is made from a silver dessert spoon and because of that, my finger is quite green underneath. I have that funny reaction to silver - anyone know any home remedy tricks for this? I am wondering if rhodium plating from a jeweler would do the trick, but since that costs $30/ring (last I had it done to my wedding set) I'm not sure if I am willing to risk it. I like it enough to deal with a green finger ;)

That's my show 'n' tell for this week. Abigail turns 1 this Thursday and now I am working on her party plans. Some crafting is definitely involved in that and I will show you after her party (on the 31st). Hope your new year is full of loveliness so far - mine sure has been!

Finally! My Watch is Replaced!

Did you know that I make jewelry, too? I know that some of you knew that, but as it's been a long time I figured not all of you would know that. Anyway, I had a watch that I put my own band on. I had a bunch of unique beads, some of which were leftovers from other projects, and I wanted to use them in a unique way. I think the original version of this watch was created 5 or so years ago and it has been re-made several times. Well, the watch died (replacing the battery did nothing) and it was a sad day. I love my watch (not the face so much as it was nothing special, but the band made it fun). Finally! My watch is replaced and I remade the band with the same beads, just changing the wire to black (I had some leftover after a recent project and I love the look of black wire). I do, however, need to change one of the bumpy beads to a smooth one, since it digs into me when I hold Abigail. It's been nice having a watch on again.

(I made it so that it wraps around twice for ease of putting it on)

P.S. We had the privilege of going to see some family and friends in Edmonton over New Year's and it was a good week. I'm sorry that we weren't able to meet up with everyone as one week just isn't enough time. I hope no one felt overlooked and that you can extend grace and understanding to us.

Other Creative Endeavours

I often joke about having crafting ADD. It is not meant to offend anyone, just a way to explain that I like to try many many different kinds of crafts. I've dabbled in embroidery, scrapbooking, home decor of many types, sewing, print design, jewelry making and more. This month I've had the pleasure of working at my computer doing some design for a friend. After our family photo shoot this summer, I created a watermark to put on the photos for posting on the internet. Twila saw what I did and asked me to help her with her business card. Without further ado:

(as always, click on the image to enlarge it)

Just in case you wanted to know, that flourish is 7 different images put together! I don't know how real designers work, but in order to be able to manipulate the color and size of the flourish, I found several wing ding fonts and tried out each letter of the alphabet until I found the ones I wanted. I then rotated, twisted, shrunk or stretched until the shape came out right. The good news, Twila, is that this is a one of a kind original just for you!

Abigail's New Toys

It's Boxing Day here and Abigail finally gets to play with her new toys!

(sheer concentration!)

(enjoying the view from her new chair)

(a very happy little girl)

We Interrupt these Christmas posts...

I was reminded that I still haven't posted about Abigail's trunk! My sister generously handed down this family heirloom to my daughter and my parents shipped it from Edmonton and all of them filled it!

(this is me excitedly waiting to open the trunk)

( Abigail's trunk with Betty's on top)

(balloons left over from David's birthday)

I was so busy unpacking the goodies, that I don't have a lot of pictures, but I can certainly tell you what was in it! First of all, have I told you that my family has been collecting costumes for Abby's future tickle trunk? The trunk is full of costumes and accessories! What a treasure, indeed! Anyway, in the trunk was some great costumes including a gorilla suit, a baby lamb, a magician's cape and hat and several fun hats including a cowboy hat that belonged to Abigail's cousin, Ethan. So much fun. Also in the trunk was a smaller steamer trunk, which my dad picked up for me at a garage sale. I'm thinking that it will be Betty Bunny's tickle trunk (Abigail's stuffed bunny from Grandma Ang). Betty already has several outfits and accessories herself.

Did you see the fabric that I made Abigail's pj's and shirt out of? Well, my sister sent yards and yards of it! I squealed with delight and immediately made a list of things (in my head) of what I want to make with it. I've made a few things for Abigail, but I have a pattern for me that I think I want to try next.

Then there was old cassette tapes that we will convert to DVD when we get the technology, including a recording of me and my sister at the ages of 5 and 3 years old. There were also some other great memories included like my mom's tambourine (all three of us learned tambourine years ago). Abigail is going to love that! This post is a long time over due and with it my public gratitude. My appologies! I am so grateful and we are looking forward to all the imaginings that will take place in Abby's bedroom!