Last Friday, [...]]]> We moved about 40 minutes away from our old neighborhood. Where we used to live, there were at least 5 thrift stores we visited regularly. I’m sad that we no longer can drive 5 minutes to one of my favorites, but I’m also excited to make new favorites–to explore and discover new gems.

Last Friday, I spent a good hour on google maps, searching for thrift stores in the area. I found a few and was even able to split them up into groups based on location. The biggest had 5, but we had already visited 2 the weekend prior. We set out Saturday afternoon to the other three.

The first two were closed. As in, no longer in business! Big booooo! The last was set to close about 15 minutes after we got there. Luckily, there were still customers scouring the place, so we went in quickly and were pleasantly surprised!

I ended up buying this train case and quilt, along with an 11″x14″ photo frame, a lamp shade, a camera lens filter (it’s 49mm, though, so I can’t use it unless I get a step-down ring), an adorable tote that says “I choose reading,” a beer mug, and a cordless phone. Our grand total? $15. Yeaaah, we were glad the other stores were closed. It made this little thrift victory that much sweeter.

The weather man tells me we’re going to be getting a ton of rain in the Houston area, so I knew this would be the last day in a while for me to get photos. Nathan is spending the day with my mom, so Andrew and I went out back for a bit. I love love love having a backyard. LOVE IT.

I got the sheet & pillowcase seen in the photo below at SeAM, which we visited 2 weekends ago. It had been WEEKS since I thrifted, so I was SO happy to find these vintage linens early in the day.

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Slightly off-topic, if you have any tips on how to mend small tears in old quilts, I’d be most appreciative. There are a few 1-2″ tears in some of the squares of the quilt. They aren’t on the seams, so I’m wondering what would be the best method to fix ‘em up. Thanks in advance!

I made rainbow cupcakes for his birthday. He hasn’t seen them yet. I’m going to frost them right before we go to pick up his brother from school. I’ll try and get some photos and/or video while we sing that special song. It’s just [...]]]> Two years ago, today, we were rejoicing his birth on a sidewalk.

I made rainbow cupcakes for his birthday. He hasn’t seen them yet. I’m going to frost them right before we go to pick up his brother from school. I’ll try and get some photos and/or video while we sing that special song. It’s just us, tonight. No party. Just celebration and happiness.

I will NOT miss sharing a room with toys. My feet are tired of stepping on Matchbox cars. My eyes are tired of seeing little plastic cities all over the place. I want a [...]]]>

With our big move just over the horizon, I’m left thinking of things I may or may not miss about apartment-living.

I will NOT miss sharing a room with toys. My feet are tired of stepping on Matchbox cars. My eyes are tired of seeing little plastic cities all over the place. I want a grown-up room.

I will NOT miss the patio garden. It’s so crampy and I want to put my hands into more dirt than can be contained in a little pot. I want to plant things in the ground. I want some permanence.

I WILL miss the light from the third story window.

I really can’t wait to be out of here. I have tons more packing/sorting/purging to do. I haven’t even started going through toys or clothing. But that’s ok. I’ll suffer long nights of it, if I have to.

Tomorrow is my littlest boy’s birthday. Two. It’s such a nice, round, even number. I like it. I’ll be making my cupcake-of-the-month for him. I hope he loves

He’s growing up fast! Because I knew he’d hate the long drive and then the long ceremony, I timidly [...]]]> I should probably stop calling him my baby. He’s the youngest, though, so he might be stuck with the “baby” nickname for all eternity. Or until I’m brave enough to get pregnant again (oh, the VOMIT!).

He’s growing up fast! Because I knew he’d hate the long drive and then the long ceremony, I timidly suggested he stay with grandma while I went out of town. Afterall, daddy was going to take Nathan to his first baseball game and I knew Andy wouldn’t really like that.

It took a bit, but we solidified our plans and I kissed his sleeping face goodbye, early Saturday morning. Later that afternoon, he got dropped off at grandma’s.

And we never heard from him again.

I KID! To my complete and utter surprise, he did wonderfully! Nary a fuss! In fact, when we went over early Sunday afternoon, he was happily riding a bike in the driveway. I asked if he wanted to go and he kinda pulled back. As if to say, “no way, Jose. I’m at Grandma’s!” Alas, we had plans to go to Grandpa’s, so we had to head out pronto. With promises of a prompt return, I buckled him up and off we went for a few hours.

I’ll have you note, it was now over 24 hours since he last nursed! Pretty amazing. We spent a few hours at Jason’s dad’s, where I smelled a magnolia for the first time.

[1] & [2]

My father-in-law got a ladder out and plucked this from his tree. It smelled amazing! A clean, lemony, floral scent.

We headed back to grandma’s in the early evening. We had dinner, opened gifts, played, etc.

and the newly minted “big boy” himself:

It was a pretty swell weekend.

I thought a diptych would be appropriate. In the second polaroid photo, he was making a ridiculously cute face, but he was TOTALLY anticipating the polaroid popping out, so he wasn’t being very still. I now only have ONE exposure left in my Spectra. I’ll save it for [...]]]> My baby turns two in two weeks.

I thought a diptych would be appropriate. In the second polaroid photo, he was making a ridiculously cute face, but he was TOTALLY anticipating the polaroid popping out, so he wasn’t being very still. I now only have ONE exposure left in my Spectra. I’ll save it for our first photo in our new house. That sounds nice, doesn’t it?

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I only need THREE more followers til I hit 100 in Google Friend Connect! I think I’ll have a mini-giveaway when that happens. A bookmark! I like making those. Spread the word!

-crocheted new bookmarks for the shop -crocheted an apron -taken the kids [...]]]>

Yesterday was a pretty horrible day. Nothing happened, but I didn’t feel right at all. I felt completely uninspired on every front–crafts, photography, Etsy, etc. Today, though, I had some coffee and a good breakfast and I think I’ve redeemed myself. I have done the following:

-crocheted new bookmarks for the shop
-crocheted an apron
-taken the kids on a walk to the park
-browsed a garage sale
-took photos on park trip
-watched two episodes of The Vampire Diaries (newest guilty pleasure; my sister and I got sucked in. Ha! See what I did there?)
-finished compiling a photo book

Add all that to a PB&J lunch and getting the littlest one to nap alone and I’d say today was about 210% better than yesterday.

Crawling on your knees toward it Making momma so proud But your voice was too loud We liked to watch you laughing You picked the insects off plants No time to think of consequences

#2 on my 25 before 26 list is to take a photo of me, or a part of me, once every week. my goal is to be [...]]]>

Crawling on your knees toward it
Making momma so proud
But your voice was too loud
We liked to watch you laughing
You picked the insects off plants
No time to think of consequences

#2 on my 25 before 26 list is to take a photo of me, or a part of me, once every week. my goal is to be more accepting and loving of myself.

That boy right there has found his courage. He tried to climb anything with a rung for him to hang on to. Ladders, slides, jungle gyms, etc. When he couldn’t quite climb the jungle gym (blame the short arms and legs), he started eating it…

He was trying [...]]]> We went to the park, this evening after dinner.

That boy right there has found his courage. He tried to climb anything with a rung for him to hang on to. Ladders, slides, jungle gyms, etc. When he couldn’t quite climb the jungle gym (blame the short arms and legs), he started eating it…

He was trying to climb it to get to daddy, who was perched up top. It was a pretty big domey jungle gym. Not even the big one could get up on his own.

Speaking of the big one; he’s turning five, this June. FIVE! I thought the day would never come. All those long nights I wished he would just grow up already! and now he’s turning FIVE and I want him to be tiny again. He’s sassy and talks back. His hair is always a mess. His room is always a mess. He says big words and he scolds ME when I interrupt him.

But.
He’s also smart. He tells ridiculous jokes and dances like a crazy-person. He lets me win card games and take his picture. He was the first.