Christmas! I'm telling you, having children really brings the magic and excitement back into the holidays. Maren loves singing "Jingle Bells," talking about what Santa is going to bring her (candy and a bear), helping me wrap presents and looking at Christmas lights.
I started making these birds for my tree last year and finally finished. I found the pattern in this book and really like how they turned out. 
I love being a mom. And I love that Chris works really hard so I can be home. That being said, Maren is stubborn to my breaking point. Everything with her is a long, drawn-out battle (getting dressed, getting undressed, eating, leaving the house, coming home, sleeping) which I frequently lose! One doctor called her "high need" and it wasn't even an appointment for Maren. I'm even starting to get "looks" from other moms (screw them for judging!). Sometimes when I am feeling at the end of my rope, I remember she is her own little person. She is sweet and loves to cuddle and give hugs. She can say an entire prayer all by herself. She is super smart and mostly speaks in full sentences, even if most of those sentences are "No, I'm not" and "No, I don't." She is creative. She has her dad's sense of humor. She is tall, delicate and beautiful. She remembers to say please, thank you, sorry and excuse me most of the time. She is energetic and coordinated. I love every part of her dearly. I'm just hoping that her headstrong personality will come in handy when she starts dating. I also wish she would wear the adorable H&M shirt I just bought.
I also had to share with you these little cars and accessories we found today at the thrift store.
I teach Sunbeams. It is one of my favorite callings and I love all my crazy, sweet 4-year-olds. Every Sunday I come home with an interesting story for Chris (which usually involves hitting and spitting). I had to share this weeks story with the rest of you.
Maren loves stuffed animals and baby dolls and spends a lot of time wrapping them up in my laundry, dish towels, or whatever else resembles a blanket. For her birthday, I made her two little quilts. I made the log cabin a little scappy ( Denyse Schmidt style) and I have been hand quilting it each night while watching Freaks and Geeks with Chris.
We also celebrated Maren's birthday (her actual birthday is on Sunday).
I have been keeping an ideas binder since before I was married, filled with magazine and catalog pics, sewing patters, recipes, etc. Along with keeping me organized, it helps keep my piles of catalogs and magazines to a minimum. I usually do some cleaning out and editing a couple times a year (or the binder would be a series of binders). I recently added some new ideas and thought I'd share my ideas with the rest of you. (This blogger also did a cute job with her Christmas binder.)
Maren loves to see things swing. She came up with the idea of putting my shoe on the step ladder and I thought a few wooden peg people would make great passengers for the shoe swing.
Happy anniversary, Chris! Wish you were home to celebrate. As a little anniversary gift, Maren got a hold of my wedding ring last Wednesday and we haven't seen it since. Chris thinks she swallowed it (and yes, we have been checking). I really miss it!
At least once a week, Maren and I make pumpkin pancakes. She's finally getting big enough to start helping in the kitchen (and I mean that...she set the table for dinner). The pancakes are a great fall tradition.
A while back, I found a recipe to soothe baby's dry skin from this book. Last winter, Maren's skin became a little dry and chapped and I tried applying different oinments without much luck. This oatmeal pouch seemed to do the trick. I just added dried lavender flowers to oatmeal, stuffed it into the pouch and I'm done. Originally I used a pair of pantyhose, which works great but isn't very pretty. I tried a more aesthetic approach with linen fabric and I am pleased to say they work just was well and probably cost less.
Maren requested a show on the "baby TV" today. I set up the portable dvd player in the corner and she brought over pillows, blanket and some toys. Pretty comfy nest.
