Monkey Hat Applique (Free Pattern)

I found a plain denim Osh Kosh hat at a thrift store for a buck.  Brought it home, designed and made a monkey hat in an hour. Here's the pattern if you want to make one.

 Which made for an excited little boy.

Who couldn't wait to try it on.
 
And of course it needed to be worn for the rest of the day. 

 

 

Very thankful he still enjoys mama made. 

Swimsuit "Moby"

If you're a blog follower, you've noticed that I'm big time into baby wearing.  Except when going for a run, I've almost always preferred a carrier to a stroller.  So much that we never have done an infant seat, just the convertible.  It selfishly provides me more opportunities to baby wear. With this carrier that I made, I've had 10 carriers so far (GULP!).  Granted, all but one were given or loaned to me...but I'm sort of a baby wearing junkie.  My faves with baby #1 were the moby for the first few months, the Ergo for then after and the ring sling as a quick go to around the house from the beginning and the only comfortable one to use while pregnant. Believe it or not, even with my gigantic baby bump, I'm still baby wearing...only I guess now it would be called toddler wearing. But my little guy says he's a kangaroo and it's his pouch. Anyway...

Did I mention I loved my moby the first time around?  The only problem is it's 100% cotton.  Worked fine for a fall baby, but now I will have a summer baby.  Which means it's inevitable with an older brother that she may get splashed during some sort of water fun (ocean, St. Lawrence River, pool, etc).   100% cotton takes an eternity to dry.  So, I traced my Moby onto swimsuit fabric and made one suitable for summer living.  It will dry quickly...so if she does get a teensy bit wet, I don't have to worry about her sitting in wet cotton.  I hope it works.

I know it just looks like a hunk of fabric, which I guess it is...but I finished the edges and tapered it to fit well.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, here's Adrian in his moby as a baby...nice and snug with mama.  Right where he belongs.

And here's Adrian now, not so tiny anymore.

How I do love his "cheese" grin.  I can't wait to try out the swimsuit edition moby.  I'll let you know how it works!

More Scores

Now this lot of scores has been especially awesome. 

A Kangaroo Book that we read about a million times a day (and that which has inspired the need to have a "Roo" in our overall pockets).
A baseball bat.
A train engine garage.
A counting book.
A shovel.
A life jacket.

All for five bucks.

I feel like this is a double score, as I kept the receipt for the 2nd life jacket I just bought.  I was able to return it in favor of keeping this one...that cost a buck.

Plus, the shovel is a hit.  Did you know tigers like to shovel?

A Coastal Evening...

This mama is moving slower these days.  Although if I told you what I accomplished today, that wouldn't define most definitions of slower.  But nevertheless, I need to find that balance between getting things done and taking it easy. 

One thing for sure, I'm not very successful at keeping things easy going at home.  Which is why it's so important to find those areas of respite close to home. 

Places with trails to explore.

Perhaps boats to see.

 

Docks for watching those boats.  Whatever it may be, places to go where the only agenda is for being together.

Thankful for us, we have the coast right here.  But really, it doesn't matter where we go, just as long as we're together.  And as long as we remember our tail.

And as long as we have a kangaroo in our pocket.

I hope there's some agenda free time in your week this week, for you to just enjoy what's important.

The Best Daddy in the Whole World: 2012 Edition

This man that I married, he's pretty darn good.  He's kind, loving and very good to me. But, I do have a few areas that I'd like to tweak.  Such as his limited enthusiasm when I drag him into these projects of mine. How he can eat an entire batch of whatever dessert I make in an instant. How he's never in a hurry.  How he begins each morning with a broadway rendition of something random, when I just want to wake up with a few moments of silence. Plus, I don't want to touch his gross feet. Yes, there's a little room for improvement.

However, there's nothing I'd change about his parenting. I don't have anything negative to say about him as a dad.  It's because he's great at it.  He demonstrates the perfect balance between being consistent and letting go and having fun.  He takes pleasure in teaching his son, always willing to have a sidekick.  He leads by example and always seems to know just what to do. This says a lot given that he's in charge while I work.  His son loves him, looks up to him, admires him.  And because of this man, we likely have the only 21 month old kid in the world who regularly has experience and can demonstrate his accomplishment in doing push ups, squats, bench pressing and heavy bag work outs.

Happy Father's Day to the best daddy in the world!  Here's last year's collection of daddy pictures and below is this year's collection.  We love you!

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Striped Baby Hat (Free Pattern)

Does this unborn daughter of mine need *another* hat?  Why yes, I think she does.  Afterall, a tiny noggin in a mama made hat is just too precious to resist, don't you think?  It will likely be a matter of days before we meet her, I'm so close.  I cannot wait.

This hat is the same as this one and this one.  

I made a pattern from the first hat to make this one.  Which did I mention I love? 

Here's the pattern.
It's for tiny babies, for the first few months.

Seam allowance:  I used about a 3/8 inch seam allowance.
Steps: 

1) Cut four triangles for hat top.  Cut four half moons for hat brim.

2) Sew and finish four triangles together to make hat top.

3) Sew two half moons together to make a circle.  Do again so you have two circles.

4) With right sides together of two circles, stitch the widest edge of the circle together. Turn inside out, press and top stitch.  That will be the hat brim.

5) Place right sides of hat brim and hat top together.  Pin, easing around curves (lots of pins for this part, you may need to do some shimmying).  Stitch and finish seam.  Press.  I top stitched along upper edge of hat brim to keep seam down.

6) Embellish how you'd like.

Zoo Fun

It's that time again this year, for our annual trip to our local zoo.  It's quaint and cute and has plenty of entertainment for my little zookeeper.  Here's our trip from 2011.  I told our little guy the night before that we were heading to the zoo the next day.  When he awoke, I asked him if he remembered where we were going.  His eyes got wide as he said "zoo". Of course we had to get decked in our giraffe shirt and our tiger tail.

It's always a good day, being together as a family.  Seeing the animals never gets tiring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But, at the end of the day, this little tiger of mine spots flowers.

 

If he spots flowers, he automatically thinks of his mama.  For which he needs to spend an undetermined amount of time picking and sharing them. 
 
Not only with his mama, but his little sister too. 

 

It won't be long before this very large mama delivers a tiger cub for the big brother. 

I cherish the sweet memories we have and look forward to the ones we will make with both tiger cubs of ours.  I may need to make a 2nd tail.  Life is quite good.