Bean Bag Fun

A few Saturday nights ago, G requested to have a family movie night. Of course, she suggested this right around the girls bedtime, but we happily obliged and even let MC stay up a little late.

 G received a bean bag for Christmas, so we told her to get it, so she could sit and watch the movie. MC decided she wanted to share.

 It was so cute watching them sit together, that we had to break out the camera.

 At first, all was well, and they acted like loving sisters.

 MC got bored and got up to wander around.

 Then, she decided to crawl on top of the bean bag...

 and, pull her sister's hair.

 Then, she found G's belly button and pointed it out to us. Next, she tickled G's belly.

She decided to climb behind G and try to push her out of the chair. (I'm pretty sure G was getting annoyed at this point.)

 When MC wasn't successful, she just climbed over G.

 I just had to share these pictures because they made me laugh! It was hilarious watching them interact together, and start out so kind and sharing, and then to watch MC pester her big sister, but to also watch G tolerate MC's peskiness with such patience.

The next morning, MC got exactly what she wanted.....

a chance to play and sit on the beanbag by herself.

We've decided that MC will be getting her own bean bag very soon!



18 week and 3 day~ Baby 3

I haven't found time to blog about our bambino lately, so I thought it would be a good time to share an update! I am just over 18 weeks pregnant and my last doctor's appointment was February 7th. 

My doctor appointments are so easy this time around. My doctor does an ultrasound and I had 5 tubes of blood drawn this time around and that was it. I love my doctor. He's very friendly and personable. I loved my doctor's when I had the girls, but I love that i'm not rotating through a group and i'm seeing the same doctor each visit. 

Because he does an ultrasound every visit, we're going to have lots of pictures to post!

 This picture above totally freaks me out. Baby does not look like a baby, but rather some growing animal.

Here's baby flexing it's muscles! Look how tiny that arm is!

If you're a facebook friend or even a follower of HPA then you already know that baby #3 is another GIRL!!!!!

We are super excited to be welcoming a 3rd baby girl in our family! We're going to have lots of cheerleaders for the football team!

It took us a few weeks, but we decided that the baby's name would be Addelyn Pearl.

Addelyn is sort of a family name. I had originally wanted the name Madelyn, but didn't want this baby to have the same first initial as MC. I read the name Addelyn on facebook and thought it was cute. After texting DJs step-mom I realized that Addie is the name that the first immigrant on DJ's side of the family married. Isadore Welte came to the states from Scotland (I think) and married a lady named Addie. Sadly, Addie and Isadore were divorced and Addie was later shot by her boyfriend. I told DJ that we may be setting this child up for disaster, but he reminded me that we create our own good luck. My mom also found out that Addie was a family member on my grandfather's side of the family. At this point, I'm not sure if we'll call her Addelyn, or use Addie for short. We'll probably go back and forth as we do with MC. (We actually call her Meggie.)

Pearl comes from the other two girls. Gretchen and Megan both have the name meanings of Pearl, and since I wanted to keep that name meaning incorporated with this baby we settled on Pearl. The only other name that means Pearl that I liked was Margaret, but we figured Margaret would be called Maggie, which is too close to Meggie. 

I love that Addie will have a classic name just as Gretchen and Megan have.

Here's a picture of me almost at 18 weeks. 

I am definitely showing! However, I still have several shirts that still fit, as well as some non-maternity jeans. Although, in the last few days, those are getting tighter, and i'll need to start wearing my belly band with them more. It is getting more difficult to bend over, especially in blue jeans. Thankfully, I can still sleep on my belly and i'm sleeping well at night.

Cravings include a weekly lunch outing to Backyard Burgers for a turkey burger and sweet potato fries. I also regularly enjoy ice cream, chocolate, and i've had more of an intense craving for fruit. I've been buying a lot of oranges, and when I've found good strawberries, I've snatched those up too. I'm ready for pineapple, strawberries, and oranges all the time!

The baby should be about 5 1/2 inches long and weigh about  7 oz. 

I'm feeling baby movements, but DJ has not felt them yet. 

My students are starting to notice that I'm pregnant.

G is very excited that she's having another little sister. MC of course has no idea, but when she points to my belly, I tell her baby and she repeats the word.

We have picked out fabric for her baby bedding and I'm going to accessorize the room in monograms, elephants, frames, and cross-stitch hoops. We will use the same crib that the girls have used, but I will be buying a "new" dresser and nightstand. I am really wanting painted turquoise furniture.

My next doctor appointment is March 7th, and i'll update again around that time!

Valentine's Day ~ At Home

After school, the girls came home to their Valentine's day treats! My parents sent them each a card and a box of chocolates, which I put at their spots at the dinner table. DJ and I gave them jumbo marshmallow pops.

 Above is MC's and below is G's.

The girls also received princess pillowcases for their travel pillows.

I bought DJ a bag of p.b. hearts (for us to share!) He had brought me home flowers this past weekend! I hate getting gifts on Valentine's day, and love that he thought to do something before the holiday. Sadly, my flowers had died by Valentine's day! He also helped me out that nigth when he got home and took over "daddy duty." (And, he made our bed that morning!)..... just call me spoiled!

Here's G looking at her gifts:

When she opened the pillowcase she said, "it's just what I wanted!" Which totally cracked me up.

MC was very excited about her box of chocolates! (Now, that's a girl after my own heart.)

G decided to go ahead and eat half of her marshmallow pop.

Ever since G was born, DJ and I have treated the girls to pizza on Valentine's day. We figured pizza restaraunts would be the least crowded on Valentine's day. This year, I decided to make a homemade pizza and that we would just stay home. The girls also had cottage cheese and oranges.

I got the pizza dough/crust recipe here. The only thing I did differently was add italian seasonings in with the dry ingredients, and I had to add some extra water. 

We all ate up the pizza and I've decided that I will not buy pillsbury pizza dough again! I loved that I didn't have to let the crust rise.

We had a great evening and I'm so blessed with my growing family!

Valentine's Day ~ MC's Party

MC's Valentine's day party was later on Thursday afternoon, and it worked out perfectly that I was able to get to both of the girls' parties! Her class sleeps until 3, so it was perfect timing!

She had just woken up when I got there and was happy as a lark when I walked in, but as soon as she saw me, she began to cry and want cuddles. At first, I thought she was going to refuse her party snacks altogether, but once I took her to the table she warmed up and chowed down!

 Her class was treated to fruit, cheese, cookies, and mini-cupcakes that they decorated that morning.

After snack time, the kids began to play. It was fun to watch her interact with her friends and teachers.

We also gave her teachers' their Valentine's day gifts. They received magnetic clips, paper clips, and a notepad, as well as candy with a fun littlenote inside.

MC played again- I think she has an interest in sticking weird objects on her head!

Here's the hair flair I made her, and you can see a better picture of the shirt I made.

I just love how she's growing and learning so much at school!



Valentine's Day~ G's Class Party

I probably go over-the-top with every holiday, with the exception of Valentine's day. I mean, my only decoration was a wreath on our front door, but I definitely decked out the girls!

I made the girls hair flair and heart applique shirts to wear. (They of course wanted to sit down and not show off their outfits.)

 G made her class Valentine bookmarks.

On the back, we taped a circle that said, "You're #1 in my book!"

 Here's G before leaving for school. She was so excited for Valentine's day!

 I managed to escape work to get to her party!

Her teacher always does a great job of incorporating games that work on fine and gross motor skills. This time, they had to carry hershey kisses in a spoon and drop them in a basket.

 Then they had a bean bag toss.

 She made these adorable heart bells that the kids wore on their feet and danced around.

 Then it was time for snacks!

 I really appreciate that her teacher doesn't ask parents to bring in tons of junk food! Her class had sugar cookies that the kids decorated themselves, apple slices, and pretzels.

 Here's G's finished cookie.

She stole a spoonful of icing to eat~ crazy kid!

I also made one of G's friends a heart applique shirt. So, I had to get a picture of these sweet girls together!

After eating, the kids were allowed to look in their Valentine boxes and choose one piece of candy to eat.

I am so thankful I was able to spend her party with her!

G was so excited about Valentine's day, that she made DJ a heart, and put it in a taped up piece of paper (envelope) and put it on his nightstand about four days before Valentine's day! She also made me a card and had it on my nightstand. She told us we could not open them until Valentine's day, and then that morning, when she woke up, she remembered it was Valentine's day and gave us both our presents from her! It was so touching and sweet of her to make us something! She drew a heart on my card and flowers on the inside!



This Week's Bows {& more}

DJ was out of town at the beginning of the week, so I was able to work mid-week, which rarely happens! Tuesday night I took the girls to the playroom after dinner and set to work.

This purple zebra print hair bow is going out in a grab-bag! If you're interested in a grab-bag you can order through my facebook page! Grab bags consist of 5-7 bows at a reduced price, and I often run them on special! Order a grab bag this week and receive 5-7 bows for $25.00 shipped! (Offer good through Saturday night at 6 pm. CST) These make great Easter basket fillers!

 I have had two recent orders for the Minnie Chevron applique' and this customer requested a bow as well! The bow is adorned with a Minnie Mouse ribbon sculpture on the side.

 And here's the set completed! I did a straight stitch sew to give a more vintage feel.

 I think bambino #3 has inspired me to create headbands. This peach flower is placed on a matching elastic headband, and would make a great photo prop! I offer professional photographers a 15% discount in exchange for pictures!

This chevron bow is also going in a grab bag!

 I have decided to begin branching out into boutique supplies. I won't carry tons of items, but these hand cut tags will definitely be one i'll keep around! These tags can be used to price items at a craft fair, or as "thank you" tags on your orders! They're made of acid-free cardstock, and will start at a pack of 100 for $6.00 + S&H. I have a "cardboard" brown, turquoise, lime, yellow, and mustard orange in stock! Message me for details! 

And finally, I get to leave you with this little honey pie. She was my office assistant on Tuesday evening and helped out by answering phone calls and returning emails!

Don't you just love her!