Good stuff in five minutes or less

The Hunger Site is a fun way to give to others, completely painlessly (and they always have cute things to buy!).

http://thehungersite.com/

The Animal Rescue Site, Breast Cancer Site, etc. also have buttons off the site to give to those organizations. It's probably not giving an astounding amount per click, but it's better than looking at another photo of a cat.

No good deed goes unpunished

I just finished wiping down my newly-washed dog, who got out as I was putting out some birdseed for the first time this winter.  She took the opportunity to roll her fresh new coat around in the neighbor's mulch. Luckily, she's not got the fur for this weather and came back on her own. That, and I think she knows that, since we got Bitty, we no longer have the proclivity to chase her for hours. 

Happy Little Clouds

My sister-in-law introduced me to the PBS Digital Video "Happy Little Clouds" by Melodysheep.

http://video.pbs.org/video/2260534667/

Needless to say, although I'm not nearly as talented as Bob Ross, I wanted to paint! (If that doesn't make you want to paint, nothing will.) So I've found my target:

Cue the ominous music.

He's a Goodwill find, and I touched him up and stained him way back before we had Bitty. But he had some white paint splotches on him that I couldn't get off or successfully incorporate into a design. I really like his eyes, though; they are a great 80's style. I also think his scrollwork is unique. I wasn't ready to put him back in the attic yet, anyway.

I've finished another project that started at Goodwill, too! A $2.00 two-foot long wooden duck with a yellow country-style bow became this guy:

I call him "Petsmart's $0.27 Fish Tank on a Wood Duck." 

New Year, new size

I fished Little Bit's size 2 clothing out of the closets and drawers today- such a tough thing to do! For a weeks I've convinced myself he was between sizes and that he could still fit into some of the clothes, but he's been stuffed into the 2T's like a bodybuilder long enough.

It is always so amazing and bittersweet to see a visible reminder of Bitty's growth. It would be so much harder if great organizations like Goodwill didn't exist, but I can at least imagine that other parents will be as tickled to find the clothes for their cuties as I was. And will be - may have to go shopping!

Creatures are stirring

Christmas magic is a lot harder than it looked when I was a child. Didn't all this stuff just happen back then? Many thanks to my parents and the other adults in my life who kept it going many, many years until I could pick up some of the slack.

Bitty has already had a visit from Santa; I email him our itinerary for his convenience and act as volunteer elf when necessary. A favorite has been a little Playskool baseball set that he can hit with a little hollow bat. He, my husband, and I have all been swinging for the fences, taking turns smacking that baseball's smiling face. Odd.

Much happiness and love in the house- need to get back to it.

Tough Crowd

It's been a tough week trying to get everything ready for Christmas. Little Bit is usually pretty supportive of our parenting efforts, but lately, he's been a critic! When his aunt, uncle, and cousin came for dinner and we began a rousing version of "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," he started howling for us to stop. Same when I danced to "Yo, Gabba Gabba." I told him he doesn't own "Yo, Gabba Gabba" and kept dancing; he tackled me at the knees!

I did have one success in the bath yesterday. He has a Fisher Price toy boat that has a sieve attachment. After singing and pouring it over him for awhile, I wore it as a hat. Bitty then took it from me, took it through the water, and wore it himself. He wasn't satisfied with his balancing ability, however, and gave it back to me. Unthinking, I put it straight back on my head. Water poured down my face. He thought that was pretty funny. 

Sharsh!

Earlier this month, Little Bit started yelling, "Sharsh!" at us, his grandparents, and his aunts and uncles. It sounded like he wanted us to be quiet, but I hesitated to correct him, because he'd also yell it when no one was talking. So we just kept an eye out for context, and we soon found it in a book one night.

In an alphabet book, he pointed to a fish and yelled, "Sharsh!" It dawned on me then that he meant "shark," as I yell and tickle him when I'm reading an undersea book that he has. I was so glad not only to figure out his meaning but also that I didn't punish him for shushing us.

It inspired me to paint on a canvas I'd been studying on!

Sharsh!

But he was unimpressed.

Great recipes for non-cooks

I have two personally-tested recipes that, despite my lack of skill, turn out great time after time. It's the holidays, and I hate cooking, so I would love more to add to my repertoire  It's great to find a dessert or main dish that is easy, tastes great, and looks impressive.

This one is from a coworker, and I actually spread the Nutella along the crescent roll, but this recipe is otherwise spot-on: 

http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/chocolate/nutella-croissants.html

And this white chicken chili is perfect for this time of year:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cha-chas-white-chicken-chili

It is as spicy as you want it to be! I've never made it with jalapenos, but be bold!

Good stuff in 20 minutes or less

Several weeks before Thanksgiving, I finished a craft that I was really looking forward to sending out. With Little Bit's help, I made some cards for recipients of the Elderly Nutrition Program, which I'd found on Volunteer Match. com.

He scribbled on the cards and the puppies, I filled them in, and we mailed them out, not expecting to hear anything else about it. However, the organization recently mailed a thank you card back, letting us know they had delivered the cards to their seniors. I was so excited!

So now, another batch of cards is ready:

I am equal opportunity when it comes to species.

And I wanted to provide the link, because it was so nice to find an opportunity to volunteer that I could do after work, at night, and with my toddler.

http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp696419.jsp

Cards can be mailed to:

Elderly Nutrition Program
40 N. East St., Suite C
Woodland, CA 95776

Keep on keeping on

I got these pictures of Little Bit recently as he played with his trains and cars with his Mega Blocks:

I must say, that is  a well-constructed bridge. 

So intense! He's even more so when he does his puzzles, and has several that he works on from morning until night. Some are missing letter pieces from being dragged everywhere, and some are covered in peanut butter and oatmeal from being worked during meals. 

My husband and I have a puzzle, too: how can we get him in his crib by ten o'clock? Lately, there have been a lot of ill-timed naps on the couch and many tears as we try to move him to his room. 

Beading frenzy

As Bitty was at his grandparents' house last night, I got into the mood to finish a beaded flower I'd begun as a Christmas present. I haven't done a flower in awhile, and at times I found myself holding my breath so that the little beads would stay on the wire. Not the most relaxing hobby for me, but one that turns out some impressive -looking crafts.

The pink azalea came from my Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts. I made ten petals and five stamens, taking the 28 gauge wire back through the rows of beads. 

Next, I twisted the wire strands together and wrapped them in layers of floral tape. I wrapped the finished flower onto a pin backing with some wire, then wrapped the whole thing in floral tape again to make it wearable. 

The instructions can be found here, on Martha's website, if you don't have the Encyclopedia (!): http://www.marthastewart.com/268845/beaded-flowers

Santa's Nice List, self-promotion

Whatever my status before, I think I should be on the nice list after yesterday. I brought out Little Bit's finger paints first thing and got goo all over my hands (which admittedly is much better than paint- I love Crayola).

The few times the television was on, it was on Thomas the Train. And the kicker- we took a trip to Phillips Toy Mart. It is lots of fun, even just seeing what's new. It should have been risky, taking a toddler into the store, but one look at the toy trains set up in the middle, and he wasn't moving.

Thomas was set up in the center, eyes shifting from one side to the other, but in a cute, non-sinister way. Every once in awhile Little Bit would point at Thomas and look at us to make sure we saw him. Buttons along the side of the tracks controlled the windmill at the top, the gate at the road, and two children on the swings, who would begin swaying clumsily.

He didn't cry as we were leaving; he just put his head on my shoulder. It was a good trip.

Santa's Nice List, continued

Here's the pic we got Thursday night:

Both my husband and Little Bit have been good this year. My husband made us patty melts for lunch and cleaned and rearranged furniture during the cloudy day today. No complaints!

At least one police officer in NYC was also good this year, having bought a shoeless man some Sketchers (one of my favorite brands) on a cold night on Times Square.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/12/03/homeless-man-gifted-boots-by-nypd-officer-shoeless-once-again/

OK, so it turns out that the man isn't homeless, he's not wearing his new shoes, and he's wondering if there is money to be gained from the experience. I still wouldn't mind if Little Bit grew up to have the same generous spirit and feel the same call to action.

Santa's Nice List

We made our harrowing annual journey last night to see Santa at the Green Hills Mall. We were doomed.

My husband coordinated a fantastic outfit with a blue snowflake sweater and grey cords. The outfit picked up his red hair and blue eyes, and it wouldn't blend with Santa's red suit. Sure, Bitty shrieked and tousled his hair within fifteen seconds of my arranging it, but we had snacks and toys and water. We couldn't have been more prepared.

We came in by the Panera Bread, avoiding (for now) the escalator question. Around the corner, on his overstuffed chair with its back to us, was Santa. And there was no line! Upon further survey, there was just one tiny baby ahead of us, barely squeaking in Santa's lap. He might even have been asleep. No one to get Bitty riled up. We couldn't have gotten a better setup.

We stood at the ropes as the parents and grandma ahead of us scoured their proofs for the perfect photo; they had their pick of great shots, I'm sure. Little Bit tried to run into the Santa scene, a move I believed meant that all the music, photos, and talk of Santa had paid off. I was wrong. When he finally was able to advance, he ran full-speed across, not even acknowledging Santa, to the exit rope.

I grabbed him and brought him to be introduced to Santa. He was having none of this. The child stops people in grocery stores and Office Max to babble and chat, and here he was avoiding Santa. He barrel rolled from Santa. He army crawled from Santa. I sat with him and stood him beside Santa, but he had no faith in my ability to keep Santa at bay. Thomas the Train, which Santa demonstrated great knowledge of, could not placate Bitty. Only when daddy sat by Santa did we get one good shot of him looking at the camera.

We moved over to look at the shots. We decided against another copy of him crying and chose the one of him, my husband and Santa. Once Bitty decided that the ordeal over, and Santa gave him a coloring book, he started playing with Santa.

I hope Santa leaves me something nice this year.

Fancy Vents

When we were looking at products for our renovation we encountered Fancy Vents. But why get those when we have the fanciest vent in town?

The green crayon is a favorite on the Homey Cream.

I finally got tired of looking at this and the hallway wall on Sunday night; both appeared quite suddenly last week. So I got out the Magic Eraser and started scrubbing after trying to get Bitty to clean with a cloth. (He should at least have to watch!) 

After I finished the hallway, however, Little Bit rushed past his daddy with the green crayon and, jabbering at the clean surface, started to create again! We stopped him this time, but apparently a mural is needed in this particular part of the home, and he'll soon catch us with our guard down.

Frosted windowpanes

My husband put up our pre-lit Christmas tree yesterday evening. Little Bit was excited to see it going up and loved its lights. There are just a few ornaments on it so far, so Bitty added his socks out of the laundry to the branches instead of taking them to his drawer.

Decorating is a bit slow this year because of our bathroom renovation; our house is already in disarray and we've been loathe to keep shifting things around. But I have gotten out my new window crayons and decorated. I have another Christmas tree by our fireplace and some snowflakes for Little Bit while he eats his breakfast. Our advent calendar, still in the attic, is being supplanted by a green and red daily countdown on the door on our way out. The Crayola crayons are so neat to play with, and they'll also force me to clean the windows in January.

Birthday 2.3: Trains, Trucks, and ABCs

Little Bit's birthday season ended this weekend with a trip to his grandparents' house for a party. He enjoyed grabbing the gum-paste letters on his ABC themed birthday cake and forcing everyone to dance to my parents' musical Christmas tree ornaments.

He also received plenty of trucks and trains, which have been well-used ever since. Our hardwood floors allow for some serious velocity. I love it; his new vehicles have kept him and his green crayon away from the hallway wall since we got back to town. Sure, it's only one evening, but I consider that a victory.

Warm and Furry

How much do I love my knitting loom?

This much!

Since this picture was taken, I've finished another hat. My husband asked me if hats were the only thing the loom could make. I think he was worried he'd have a series of seven knit hats of the day. How much does my cat, Nacho, love the knitting loom?

She is stalking me far more than usual- but at least she hasn't hit me with her laser-eyes.

Meow Mix enhances their deadly accuracy.

All Croaked Up

Little Bit enjoys running around our couch, and he usually forces us to join in by grabbing our legs and pointing until we take off. This evening he was mixing it up by occasionally stopping, doing his version of a jump (he's not quite off the ground yet) and giving a high-pitched "ribbit." 

We've always compared him to a frog. When he was small, he would snuggle into sleep in a frog-like position against us, and he still sleeps with his bottom in the air. So his first birthday was frog themed. We had frog soaps as favors and an adorable cake with frogs all over it. I also spent many an evening folding origami frogs to decorate with, from this pattern on one of my favorite sites: 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacquedavis/3051222260/in/set-72157605609557222

(The artist also does some amazing embroidery.) So many frogs, my husband compared it to the biblical plague. 

This birthday has an ABC theme, since Little Bit loves working with the letters. I have some teacher's borders and some coloring pages for the party this weekend, and I'm decorating with flash cards. Can't wait!

Sense enough to be lazy

I ended the day being quite lazy despite my ambitious dinner of "Every Vegetable in the Fridge that Needed to Go" pasta. Little Bit enjoyed it, went from a saucy dinner to a long bath, then had fun avoiding his after-bath diapering by streaking laps around the couch.

After he went to bed, I found myself strangely mesmerized by "Top Gear" on Netflix. Very relaxing, the cars driving through the British countryside, the sun shining on their hoods. I would not know the show existed without my husband, and today, it was a nice nightcap. 

Subconscious inspiration

It was hard to get back to work today, but responsibility bested the snooze button. I had a good day of catching up and returning calls, then back home to my new painting projects. Since receiving my etsy shipment of wooden dolls over the weekend, I've been painting angels and superwomen. 

Some of them look more "Mardi Gras."

Christmas coming up inspired the angels; not sure what prompted the heroines. With all the festivities coming up, I guess I need one and need to be the other. 

Scribbling away

I was fairly efficient today. I'm not any closer to getting the Christmas tree out of the attic, but we now have things to wear! We're waiting to finish the bathroom renovation before beginning the holiday decorations, and it's been easy to let things accumulate around the house since it's cluttered anyway. 

I took Little Bit on a trip to Office Max today to get some new place mats done.

His babysitter sent the pictures home with him as some of his best work, and I have to agree. He's recently gone from spirals to squared shapes, and I'm a fan of his new period. It's much better than his forays into crayon on marble. 

He even colored the "Little Prince" picture frame. Should I have seen this coming?

Thankfulness and pie

Little Bit is thankful for the truck he got this year for his birthday. Why is it that he ignores me but loves it when a creepy truck talks to him? 

And I don't think I'm in charge.

We spent a very nice Thanksgiving with my husband's parents. They took us to the Montgomery City Zoo, which was a great time. He loved the train that went around the zoo's parameter. His face screwed into a cry just as the wheels stopped turning, but it was quickly dispelled by the giraffes, who ate hay out of Grandma's hands. He was amazed. 

I named this one "Patches."

I ate too much, walked a little, and enjoyed some time reading some magazines that had been sitting on the table too long. We made the trip back today with a cooler filled with Thankgiving treats- we're ready to start the week!

Birthday 2.2

Little Bit is having a great week without really knowing why. We had dinner with his aunt, uncle, and cousin yesterday, and he had the best time playing with his cousin, her toys, and their golden retriever. He tested his spatial skills as he tried to get into a doll house feet-first, and he flung himself with abandon onto an exercise ball like it was an olympic sport. And I've never seen a golden retriever try to distance itself from a child; he was gregarious, to say the least.

I was very excited to complete a Pinterest experiment this morning- s'more treats.

While certainly not as good-looking as their inspiration, they were delicious, and so easy. I just spread marshmallow creme between graham crackers, then dipped them in microwaved chocolate chips and set the chocolate in the fridge. I hope his daycare enjoyed them, too!

Tonight, we continued the tradition we started on Bitty's first birthday of going to the Krispy Kreme by Baptist Hospital for doughnuts. It seems that the shop is perfectly placed for the pregnant women driving by for classes; that certainly was the case for me. Little Bit is turned around in his car seat now, and he enjoyed the lights as we drove. It was a nice trip.

Casting on

I am in love with my new knitting looms! How much? 

This much!

I can't believe I knitted something cute in under two hours. Little Bit is not nearly as impressed as I am with the fact that he can now outfit his stuffed animals. But he's still cute. 

I guess. 

Warm and fuzzy

I had a good day yesterday with my parents, siblings, and brother-in-law. We were kicked out of our house early so the bathroom could get a coat of grout, so we made the trek to Cookeville. IHOP for lunch was a lot of fun, and Colin had a great time riding the gator with Grandpa out on the trails.

I also finished an easy fleece tie blanket I'd been working on.

And no, I'm not trying to convey any message with this print.

If you want to try it, you'll need a table top or floor space to pin the fabric together and cut the fringe. Otherwise, it can be tied anywhere, but it's bulky to carry. I found the instructions on this website:

http://www.allkindsofbabystuff.com/no_sew_fleece_blankets.html

And in a pinch, Vendian has printable rulers!

http://www.vendian.org/mncharity/dir3/paper_rulers/

It looks great, even with the uneven cuts. 

"Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught." -Churchill

I stopped to fill up my car in Murfreesboro this morning on my way to work. I was the only car at the pumps, so I was surprised when an elderly man appeared next to me and asked if I was a single parent. I said, "No; have you been talking to my husband?" He laughed, explained that he had a magazine he was handing out for single parents, and gave me one anyway. I hope his future encounters are friendly- maybe that's why he picked Friday morning for his religious pamphlet trek.

I am much friendlier since I got my knitting loom, as I'm almost finished with my test run, baby-sized hat! I'm guessing it will end up on Tuck from the Wonder Pets, since it's in a scratchy white practice yarn. I love the speed I have on the loom; after ten minutes, I could see an inch of hat gathering in the middle of the circle. Are matching Fall hats and scarves in the family's future?

Birthday 2.1

It's almost Little Bit's second birthday! I took his party to daycare today, and although the brownies stuck to the bottom of the pan and were about 1/2 inch thick, I did pretty well on the party favors. 

One day we'll get to the "cupcakes for thirty" school birthday. Since it was feasible, I painted each of his little friends in miniature and put them with some of their favorite toys. The one of the left is holding a Harry Potter book. I have a hard enough time drawing faces on two-inch figurines; putting a tiny boy wizard on the book's cover was out of the question. But I hope they love them! I can't wait to hear what my little redhead thought of his mini-me.

And if they hated it, there's candy too. 

Using the Force

Little Bit started his day right in his new Darth Vader t-shirt and cape. He got so excited when he saw his new (to him) track for his cars to run at Grandma and Grandpa's- no wonder I love making him things! The latest is a Hobby Lobby mail box, painted with his name and our house number. He loves to hear the Blue's Clues mail song and check the box for letters.

Grandma and Grandpa missed a great opportunity this weekend. While we were at the mall, one of the stands had a Yo Gabba Gabba Brobee knitted hat in adult size (I thought the little guy's name was "Grobee" until I looked up how to spell it). I stated that the hat would be a hit with Bitty, but it had no takers.

While Bitty's been rolling trucks and trains, my husband and I looked at materials for the bathroom remodel and ran errands. We also got the chance to watch a two-hour movie tonight! Although we go back to work tomorrow, we picked "The Lincoln Lawyer." It was pretty entertaining, but some scenes made me feel like I was at work. Legal dramas may be ruined for me. 

Back to reality

I'm back after a great weekend Christmas shopping with my mom and sister! We stayed in Cool Springs two nights and hit that mall hard, but we also got to Opry Mills with Little Bit to give my husband a chance to run some Saturday errands. I forgot my stroller, so we rented the one that looked like a red race car. He loved the steering wheel and probably endured it much longer than he would have his usual transportation.

I think the race car put Bitty in the mood to run. The Reebok store had blue lines imprinted into the floor to make two running lanes on a small track, and Bitty would wait for a "Ready, set, GO!"to start charging down the track. He started in one lane for a lap, then made another lap waddling with a foot in each. Then kept going. As the day progressed, he began races on the edges of the halls, where the tiles are different accent colors. He announced his own starts and began crouching before taking off.

The Cool Springs Santa was out and had few lines. Going to try the pic earlier this year to avoid this:

That Santa is a true professional.

Got back and settled, then we all suited up in light jackets and took advantage of the fading light. Little Bit and the puppy are good playmates now, and he enjoyed watching her play in the leaves. I made grilled cheese for dinner, and Bitty ate his pear quite artistically. Admittedly, I'm biased.

My son is a rainbow, and so is his room.

I'm feeling productive this evening, although I somehow messed up Annie's Mac and Cheese for dinner (still good, even with little orange cheese balls). I've gotten some laundry done, set up some crafts to dry, and hopped like a frog with Little Bit. I was reasonably successful overseeing his coloring, but we're going to have to invest more in Magic Erasers. 

So excited to start shopping in earnest with my sister and mother this weekend! I'm getting into the spirit! I've also put a 25% off coupon in my Etsy shop, in case any of my listings could help someone else feel festive.

Bitty's choice: DJ Lance Rock

Just got word that my knitting loom has shipped! I'm not giving up, even though my crochet and knitting has been dismal. Speaking of dismal, surely this story, about a Chinese man divorcing and suing his wife over their baby's appearance, is a hoax:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/10/29/chinese-man-divorces-ugly-wife_n_2037141.html

Surely. I can't imagine anyone being so shallow.

The election has been consuming our household today, much to Little Bit's chagrin. There was much weeping when "Yo Gabba Gabba" was replaced by PBS News Hour. I noted that Gwen Ifill and my husband share similar tastes in eyewear. No matter what side you favored, the pictures at the following link are pretty funny. They are a nice reminder that both contenders were brave to go into the fray.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/11/06/us-presidential-election-funny-pictures_n_2082082.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular#slide=1723633

My technique needs practice

Back when I was painting Invisi-bear, I snapped this picture of Little Bit:

He had come in to see what I was doing, and I thought it would be adorable if he worked on the painting, too. He was wearing good clothes, so I put a drop cloth over his shorts and took his shirt off. He began the project seriously, keeping the brush on the canvas. However, the newspaper underneath began to get a coat of paint, then the table.

So I took his brush, wiped him off, and started to take him down the hall to the bathroom for further rinsing. He wanted to continue his masterpiece, so he whined and flopped stomach-first into the floor. As I was trying to wrangle him, my husband walked through and stopped to watch. He noted that it looked like a scene from "Cops," with a shirtless, face-down perpetrator.

Sharing Smarties (maybe you had to be there)

My son does not yet share my love of Smarties. I gave him one out of my roll; he put it in his mouth and pondered it awhile. He took it out, and, as food was around, the dog was standing in front of him plaintively.

He gave it to the dog, who thought for far less time before dropping the Smartie to the floor. So Little Bit picked it up, looked at it, and tried to force-feed it to me. I guess I should be glad he inspected it beforehand. 

My wild birthday

After a bench trial yesterday, I celebrated my birthday at Chuy's with the guys. I wasn't paying a lot of attention since I was  playing with Bitty and eating chips, so I ended up with the special - super spicy enchiladas blancas. Bitty and I colored the dog family on his placemat, and he broke all four crayons in the little box before we left. Each time he'd say, "Oh noooooo!" It was a lot of fun.

We got back home for some coffee and Halloween candy, and I started to come off that adrenaline built up at the trial. We played chase around the couch and colored some, then I hit the coffee during Little Bit's bath. He was still up at 10:00 PM when I told the husband I was going to take a fifteen minute nap- that lasted until morning.

 

Happy Halloween!

On Halloweens past, my only worry was running out of candy. One year, I made elaborate (not Pinterest-worthy, but good for me) gift bags for the kids coming to the door, and last year I proudly paraded my little dinosaur around in his stroller while he dozed.  

Celebrating Halloween is still worry-free when contrasted with the Fall and Winter holidays coming. I got home before my boys and put the large mixed bag of candy into snack size bags. I was sure to put a good piece of candy in with a couple of pieces of "filler" candy, and the first thirty or so bags got a few stickers until they ran out. I thought this would be an efficient way to make sure we didn't run out and keep things moving so that Little Bit could enjoy the kids and the costumes that came to the door. Little Bit and Daddy came home, and I dressed him in his shirt, crocheted aviator hat, and scarf. Things deteriorated pretty quickly from there. 

Tweet: "Decided last min to be a hooligan."

I attempted to take a picture of Bitty with my iPhone, which started a tantrum as he reached in vain for Netflix and Angry Birds. I gave him the phone instead of holding the line because, like any good mother, I did not want him to be blotchy and puffy in his Halloween pictures. So I snapped a few good shots while the husband was getting the dog leashed for the crowds to come. 

Then we tried to take some shots with Daddy, but without the iPhone. Not a chance. 

We ventured outside, all of us and the dog, and we had our one successful trick o'treat at our neighbors' house. Bitty loved their glowing pumpkins and had fun talking to them, but still wanted to go explore in the fading light. So we set off for the next house, with recent neighbors we had not met, while the husband went to man our door. As Bitty and I made our ill-fated trek, our dog got increasingly agitated by all the traffic until we had to kennel her. So she barked incessantly until we released her after dinner. 

At the next house we met a very nice couple with a golden retriever. A bit of a chat and Little Bit decided to stay awhile. He was livid that Halloween was not a street-wide open house and began to lay down in passive resistance between their rows of monkey grass after we said "goodbye." I scooped him up and hustled my kicking, wailing little goblin back to the house for some spaghetti. But only spaghetti and "Yo, Gabba Gabba" would do. 

Bless you, DJ Lance. You were by far my favorite costume tonight. 

Still in the Spirit!

Having trouble getting anything done tonight. I had a care package full of candy from my parents waiting on my doorstep when I got home today, and I'm devouring Smarties by the roll-full. They know I can't resist them. My parents got a bag of them from Sam's Club for our vacation with them this year, and my husband mocked me and took pictures as I knocked them back.

My parents also included a Halloween book for Bitty, and it's the second one that has a doorbell embedded in the story. He loves both the books. I'm glad we don't have a doorbell on the house, because if we did, the dog would go crazy until those books went back on the shelf.

Halloween is already more fun this year, although last year Little Bit was adorable in his costumes.

He attended his first Halloween party this weekend and was amazed. I think he believes he met the Cat in the Hat. I can't wait to see how he does trick o'treating tomorrow!

Another Blast from the Past

Am I the only person who didn't know The Giver by Lois Lowry had sequels? She finishes out the story with her new book, Son- I may have to check it out.  I read The Giver in school. Little Bit's future reading list certainly has plenty of dystopian and post-apocalyptic choices that have come along since 1993.  

Spent the blustery evening at Hills Center, strolling while waiting on our Pei Wei takeout.   Bitty practiced jumping over the sidewalk cracks, and he discovered and approves of the Vineyard Vines whale logo. He could not say the same about his teriyaki kid's bowl, but with my husband still up, I'll be surprised if it survives the night.

Winning weekend

Many thanks to my husband, who did not wake the baby when his team won the World Series.

We just got back from a great retreat with our church to Beersheba Springs. It was chilly, overcast and rainy, but we had a wonderful time with friends. Little Bit had a new challenge in trying to keep up with the older kids, and I think the Halloween party had him puzzled. We knew it would be too much this year to hike Stone Door or Greeter Falls. But that's just more reason to go back.

View from the top

I wish I'd looked into the history before I went- and these old photographs show some of the buildings and the hotel we occupied.

http://www.tennessee.gov/tsla/exhibits/tnresorts/beersheba.htm

We went to Beersheba Porcelain Saturday afternoon. It was fantastic; I could have browsed all day, but Bitty was also very interested in their offerings.

http://www.beershebaporcelain.com/pots.html

Luckily there was a little koi pond outside in the garden to keep him busy. We left around the time he started leaning over and saying, "Dive, dive!" like he does in the bath.

Blasts from the Past

I had a great date night with my husband last night; we ate at Carrabba's and got some great coffee at Well Coffeehouse on Richard Jones Road. Little Bit was in high spirits and ready to be tucked in when we picked him up, and we ended the night with scoops of ice cream on the couch. 

Also had the chance to catch NPT's pledge drive last night, and one of the people featured was Fran Powell from Mrs. Cabobble's Caboose. Had to order a copy of the DVD- I think I remember liking that show.

The Goosebumps franchise by RL Stine is more recent in my memory; I remember loving those books and shows in my childhood. He was featured this morning on The Bob Edwards Show because it was the twenty year anniversary of the series. And he's still writing them! Little Bit has a lot to look forward to.

In the Spirit

I have the very best babysitter for Little Bit; she is such a wonderful person. She recently bought him and his playmate matching jack o'lantern shirts and took pictures of them playing in the pumpkins, mums, and trees in her front yard. I can't wait to see how they turn out!

It inspired me to make her a picture frame. I had an unfinished frame in my shelves, as I am both an impulse buyer and a sucker for sale racks. Spring green, classic lamp black, and edged with pumpkin orange dots made with a pencil eraser. I hope she likes it!

Cookie craft for my monster

Last week I finished a project I'd been planning for several months. It was quick and easy and lots of fun- just had to cut the templates out. I hate using scissors, probably because I can never find a pair when I need them. The husband would say that it's because I'm disorganized; my craft room would tend to corroborate that.

I searched for cookie templates online, but ended up making circles in word in two inch and three inch diameters for simplicity's sake. I cut out the felt, then scalloped the two inch circles to look as messy as my real-life cookie frosting abilities. 

The sprinkles were fun once I decided not to use french knots- a messy straight stitch looked so much nicer.  

And the finished product has been "eaten" like Cookie Monster many times since I gave it to Bitty!

I'm so excited that he likes them, and I hope he'll use them in his little kitchen. They suit my purposes, but for truly impressive cookies, check out these at "Whip it Good Cookies:"

http://americanmade.marthastewart.com/profiles/erin-heflin-1945

Amazing! I almost couldn't eat them. 

Kid tricks

It's neat that the husband and I both have our separate games we play with Bitty. Daddy got home to much rejoicing today, which led to their latest goofy trick- Bitty will run to him and he'll swing his leg over Bitty's head. The little guy doubles with laughter!

I'm not as athletic. Bitty used his mommy-baby bonding time this Sunday to begin a series of screeching matches; I'm guessing he was preparing for Halloween. I get a hug when I win.

But it's great when everyone can get involved. Little Bit has started opening his mouth to say "Ahhhh" and expecting everyone in the room to do it, too. It certainly puts the hierarchy in question to see a circle of adults being led in a chorus by a toddler. He could be the next Giancarlo Guerrero.  

Party animal

Got back to Nashville today after my conference and a weekend at my parents' house. Little Bit had a great time with his grandparents, and I had a lot of fun celebrating birthdays with my family, too. I feel particularly old since my brother and I went through a haunted house at our old high school. All the kids trying to scare us were adorable.

Little Bit and I also listened to a blast from my past on the way back to Nashville: Jim and the Animal Band. 

http://www.theanimalband.com/

I must have seen one of their first performances back in the day, and I found their CD "Uncaged" several months back and really enjoy it. "Pajama Island" has a nice rhythm, and I like the saxophone on "Clean Up Your Room." It's nice to find music we can both enjoy.

Working 9 to 5

Looking forward to seeing Little Bit this afternoon after a conference all week. I've finished a project for him (behind my computer- and still listening!), and I can't wait to see if he likes it.

I've also been thinking about Fall trips. We meant to go to a corn maze last year, and we need pictures of our little guy nestled in leaves. Dollywood is always a good time!

We saw Dolly last time we went to the theme park, and one of the best things about my brother's UT graduation was her performance of "Rocky Top" as the keynote speaker. And his graduation from college, but I was expecting that.

Martha Stewart's American Made

Thistle Farms of Nashville is a finalist for Martha Stewart's American Made Awards!

http://americanmade.marthastewart.com/profiles/becca-stevens-3274

I love the whole idea of this contest, and it's a fantastic place to go to admire crafts and foods as works of art.

Part of Their World

This is the funniest, sweetest thing I've seen in awhile:

http://moms.today.com/_news/2012/10/15/14439014-dads-channel-their-inner-princesses-to-sing-little-mermaid-song

How great to see men throwing themselves into parenthood! And once you channel your inner princess, can you stop?

My little herbivore

Little Bit is not nearly so excited about falling leaves as I think he should be. I taped some to his doodle pad yesterday, and he pulled them off to draw. Leaves still on the trees are a different matter.  Last week during one of our walks, he took one from a neighbor's low-hanging branch and took a bite out of it.

He had a great time during the wind advisory pretending to be an airplane, and he gets extra applause when my voice is gone. I think he loves my lack of voice commands; at least he took full advantage when we were at Target looking at laundry baskets. Wish he still fit in one. He was taking off down the aisles, fruit loops spilling everywhere.

Reasonably foreseeable use

This morning, Bitty is yelling at the TV, trying to tell Blue's Clues' Steve where the clues are. My voice is gone, so Steve's lucky that the little guy knows those paw prints.

My parents came to visit yesterday. We had a good time at Jim 'n Nick's BBQ,  then had some coffee and played Mega Blocks at the house. They also brought us a new toy- an office kneeling chair on casters! It rolls really well on our wood floors, so we've been having a good time chasing Bitty around the living room. I see our weekend plans!

Old McNashville has a farm.

This evening, as my son zipped up my neighbor's driveway, between the parked cars, and up her wheelchair ramp,  she asked how we keep up with him. My answer as I apologetically hurried by: "We really don't."

Which is why I love Ellington Agricultural Center. It's a beautiful place with a lot to see and a lot of room to run. The permanent museum is impressive, and if you want to see a nervous volunteer, have your child start running excited circles around an antique tractor.

We went on two Summer Saturdays this year; Bitty loved seeing the animals brought out for display. He inadvertently terrified some cute little chickens, fed goats, and hugged a donkey.

The goat also a hug through the enclosure.

We've not been in the Fall. Although it would be great on any cool autumn day, we've heard good things about the upcoming Music and Molasses Arts and Crafts Festival!

http://www.tnagmuseum.org/special.html

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend

I have never been tough enough to slide without pads:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7424676n&tag=showDoorFlexGridRight;flexGridModule

Have I mentioned that I love CBS Sunday Morning? Those ladies of baseball are still grittier than me. In my defense, I currently have a cold. It is so funny that the players went to charm school before taking the field.

And "A League of Their Own" is twenty years old. Wow.

If you fall into a mud hole, check your back pocket- you might have caught a fish.

I absolutely love the Darrell Royal quote about thinking lucky. Maybe that's why I've been painting fish lately. Or maybe I want to live under the sea like I did when I was nine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Mermaid_(1989_film)

 My first attempt began at Goodwill with a painting of a winter scene:

And ended up being a migration of vermillion fish:

My second began as a tea kettle on a wooden plaque. Since Bitty loves going to Petsmart to look at the fish, I made it an aquarium. 

Upon showing Little Bit my efforts, however, it is clear he prefers actual fish. (He growled at Invisi-bear, so I know he appreciates some of my works.) While we can't get a fish - Bitty will have to be content with Floater, my parents' new beta - I'll keep working for something to get him excited about his next room makeover. 

The soundtrack is everything

Yesterday our family was watching the Chargers v. New Orleans while listening to my Pandora station "You are my Sunshine." It was pretty funny at times, especially when Los Lobos came on with "Bella Notte" from their Disney covers album.

Today, the soundtrack has mostly been sniffling and coughing with the changing weather. However, it also included the sounds of the microwave heating up leftovers for dinner- that's blissful. And Little Bit said "bear" for the first time today and got so excited at our reaction he started repeating it in a funny gravelly voice. It was a nice evening.

Twenty-five years? Inconceivable!

I already loved "The Princess Bride" before this interview with Mandy Patinkin:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2012/10/05/162383428/mandy-patinkin-25-years-after-the-princess-bride-hes-not-tired-of-that-line

What a neat person! I'm looking forward to watching the movie with Little Bit, and it doesn't hurt that it's full of good characters.

Not every swing is a hit

When I make peg dolls for Bitty, I usually don't put faces on them. This is why:

This one's eyes didn't get one bit better as I worked on them. As in life, sometimes less is more, although the eyebrows kind of look like Walter Matthau. But the most frightening is this one: 

Cue the scary laugh. I went so awry on this one that I painted it in "Bleached Sand" to try to start over again. Want this elf for your shelf?

Mothers, the Built-In Market Share

Last night I finished up the cheddar cheese popcorn I impulse-bought from the Boy Scouts outside of Kroger last week. I'd spent quite a bit of time online getting cyber-coupons and was excited about the  savings; all it took was a little group of kids in uniform to spend that amount and then some. I'd have had an iPhone much earlier if child labor laws allowed disappointed-looking tots to work at Verizon.

Occupational Hazards

While we were expecting and right after having Little Bit (when he was easier to carry), we frequently went to moving and estate sales to look for books and toys for him. (The first place we look is www.estatesales.net.) I picked up a neat knitted giraffe puppet at one sale; it needed a little TLC and is still missing an ear. I love it, but it's not been a go-to favorite of the baby.

I got it out today and almost lost a hand. Bitty thought it was hilarious, but I'm not sure if it was the voice I gave the giraffe or the fact that the dog was climbing my torso to pursue the puppet over my head. Not to repress him, but he's not going to be the the next Steve Irwin if he responds like that to an endangered animal in peril. 

Little Bit's Playlist

The following songs and musicians have been making Little Bit's toes tap while we're listening to Pandora:

"Be Like You" by the Asylum Street Spankers- I really like this one, too, and I'm going to search for more from them.
Raffi's Tingalayo
Anything by Caspar Babypants (Chris Ballew from the Presidents of the United States of America!)
http://www.babypantsmusic.com/fr_home.cfm

Herding cats

Bitty had a friend over today for several hours, and it was the first time I'd watched two under two by myself. His friend is the sweetest little girl, but she's a lot faster than Bitty (he's in the 95th percentile for weight and height). And they didn't want to play with the same thing at the same time unless the toy was a one-kid toy. Lots of refereeing, and I don't know if I'm a professional or replacement caliber.

I ended up hiding the dog and two cats in my bedroom to protect them from all the love. And after she was picked up, there were naps all around.

Pottery to Puzzles

Bitty has about the same regard for the TACA fair that he does for CBS Sunday morning. I thought he'd love the dogs going by, but he ended up napping after eating some bread with ketchup. I loved it, though! Wish I had one of everything, including the apple fritters. 

Today Bitty has been working and reworking a yard-sale puzzle like it was a full-time job. We took him to Elmington Park and Whole Foods, but he was happiest standing by our couch and making animal noises as he put the farm critters in their spots. 

This weekend has been relaxing and wonderful. I'm finishing up a painting I've been working on, and I'm thinking of paper doll ideas for a new drawing I've gotten from my dad.

Saturday in the City

It looks like it's going to be a beautiful weekend in Nashville! The husband and I are planning to go to the TACA fair with Bitty today. We usually find some good Christmas and birthday gifts, and it's inspiring to see the work these artists do.

http://tennesseecrafts.org/

This time last week Bitty and I were taking a Gator ride with my dad through his logging paths. The afternoon was sunny and cool, and Bitty loved going fast through the straightaways with the weeds hitting his shoulder. Comparatively, he'll think today is tame, unless he gets some paint on him. I'll do my best.

There can be no courage unless you're scared. - Rickenbacker

I love Little Bit's day care provider. She has already put up large spiders all over the house for Halloween, and Bitty likes to play with them. Last year lots of noisemaking toys came out, too, which is why I was surprised when Bitty got spooked by my children's Halloween Pandora channel this evening. I felt terrible, but he was soothed with an extended reading of nursery rhymes. Apparently the man in the moon looking out at you is not as disconcerting.

I have to say, I couldn't help dancing to the Kid's Bop version of "Thriller." Even cool when children sing it - what a great song.

Into the Wild

Got out to take a walk with Little Bit and the dog pretty late tonight, and Bitty started howling at the moon!

And this guy was finished yesterday- my husband named him "Invisi-bear."

Unnecessary roughness

No one told me we were switching from flag football to tackle around here.

It started last week when Bitty and I ended our sidewalk chalk session because of the early sunset. He followed me back inside willingly, apparently thinking I was going to let him have the chalk for the wood floors. But when he didn't get it - and while the front door was still open - he grabbed my pants, nearly dropping them in front of the neighborhood, and almost pulled me down. 

Then last night, Bitty, the husband and I were out playing with the dog, and the pup got so happy and excited that she started tackling Bitty (to his delight). Once she had him on the grass, she'd lick his face and try to burrow underneath him. I'm sure his squeals and laughter could be heard all down the otherwise quiet street. 

Looks like I'm going to have to get to the weight room. 

Playing to win

Have I mentioned how much I love CBS Sunday Morning? Bitty can't stand it; the whole show he whines and goes from the couch to the TV console turning on the XBox to watch his Netflix shows. I'm confident he'll grow to love Charles Osgood.

Yesterday's show was weirdly inspiring with this story about a Detroit car salesman who excels at carnival games:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57500152/detroit-mans-life-is-stuffed-with-carnival-game-prizes-thanks-to-talent/?tag=showDoorFlexGridRight;SunMoImageStack

I never win those games, so I was impressed even before I learned that he gives all the stuffed animals to charity. It is neat that he's taking this hobby and making his mark on the community. What an oddly- cool legacy!

Beady-eyed

Hoping to make a trek today to my happy place- Hobby Lobby! Little Bit loves it, too- he tries to smell the fake flowers.

And I've recently gotten out an old craft of mine that I never finished but couldn't throw away. I saw a neat idea in a magazine (I forget which one) for a Christmas tree garland made out of homemade beads. I used magazine scraps and plastic straws, and got three straws in before I realized that it would take a TON of beads to make a Christmas garland. But I'm going to keep it in mind- maybe I can put Bitty to work and have a cool-looking tree one day! For now, he enjoys stringing the beads on twine.

Found some great instructions here:

http://www.ehow.com/how_6187444_directions-magazine-beads.html.

Green Hills Window Shopping

I hated to hear that $30,000 in handbags were stolen from the Louis Vuitton in Green Hills Mall!

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/19601031/30k-in-handbags-stolen-from-green-hills-mall

We always stop by there these days when we're at the mall, not to shop, but to see their great windows. Little Bit loves the huge eye-flowers, and I like the window that looks like it's full of polka dot octopus tentacles. Very similar to the picture here at the flagship store:

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/07/10/king-louis-vuitton-meets-the-polka-dot-princess/

As far as attractions at the Green Hills Mall, for Bitty it's second only to the escalators.

Primacy and Recency

After a long day at work, stopped by Goodwill and found a large mounted canvas to paint over for $4.00 and an old art textbook that I'll surely decimate in vain for some craft. Had a fun conversation with an elderly lady in line who said I might have found a painting by the next Grandma Moses (Google says, "No such luck.").

And as if by Vulcan mind meld, the husband brought in Krispy Kreme doughnuts just when they were needed. So a good day after all.

Meet the Family

I've been on the hunt for Little Bit's tiny family for about a week now. Found his hiding place as he was stashing his T-Rex flashlight behind the cushion on the leather chair. So we're back in our little red house, safe and sound. 

And rocking the "mom jeans"

Last time Bitty had put the mommy and daddy peg dolls in the kitchen sink. I hope there's no hidden meaning of any kind in that gesture. 

Since we found them, the dolls have been assisting the Wonder Pets in saving a plastic giraffe. They also give Tuck the Turtle lots of kisses. Why did the Wonder Pets creators made the affectionate one the (potentially-salmonella-ridden) turtle? 

I love that Bitty gets such a kick out of his little family dolls- I can't wait to give him the one I made him for Halloween! 

"When you're curious, you find lots of interesting things to do." -Walt Disney

Happy 140th Birthday to the creator of Curious George, H.A. Ray!

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7421908n

I'm not sure why all those parents on the TV series let their children play unsupervised with a wild animal. However, he's kept the little one entertained through many a load of laundry.

The best-laid plans ...

I think I'm coming down with a cold from Little Bit. Or am I? 

I also utilize the medicinal properties of Maker's Mark.

We met with the contractor for our bathroom remodel in the AM, then Bitty had to help Steve figure out what Blue's wanted to do since 1996.

An earlier episode mentioned a "tape deck!"

Then after lunch the little guy got a second wind without his nap, which would be better if I got a second wind, too. We had a great time outside, though, watching the tiny lavender butterflies and pretending to be the airplanes overhead. 

The power of positive thinking

Bitty's current obsession is "keys." We have our computer keyboard and mouse locked up in our desk with an old-style gold key to open all the drawers, so this has received a lot of his attention. Apparently "Hungry, Hungry Herbivore" on PBS kids' Dinosaur Train site is a toddler's equivalent to "Modern Warfare."

My parents visited us tonight and saw this firsthand- think these guys on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/06/walt-disney-world-guests-_n_950136.html. (But adorable and almost two, not pirates.)

The funniest try he had at the keyboard, however, was after his Grandma in Alabama got him a Mr. Potato Head. The nose apparently looks like a skeleton key to him, and he would sneak over to the keyboard, murmuring "key," and try the nose in the locks.

My new shop!

I'm so excited! I just opened my new etsy shop:   http://www.etsy.com/shop/MaternalCraftiness. Two of my initial offerings, my "Too Cute to Cook" canvas panels, are based on Bitty's love of birds.

We have three great etchings by Lucius DuBose that feature toucans, a wren, and a blue jay, respectively, and many mornings Bitty wants me to talk about them and make bird calls. Not that I would want anyone hearing the bird calls, and the Audubon society would recognize none of them. But in any case, I can't wait to decorate for Thanksgiving by putting his panel in his room!

The whir of opportunity

Today in court I was reminded of my dream to eventually go to the Appalachian mountains to apprentice in chainsaw art. A good part of the motivation is to shake the chainsaw at passersby and tell them to get off my property. Selling the art would really be secondary.

If it's not too late for you, this fellow in Maine has a great setup- and maybe some hearing loss:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7375104n

His royal highness

Since Bitty was born, I have been constantly on the hunt for things to make that I think he'll love. Back when Prince William and Kate Middleton were getting married, some of my coworkers had a tea to celebrate- and it was a blast! We made crowns for the occasion: 

From the templates here, out of craft foam and decorations found at Dollar Tree: 

http://www.firstpalette.com/tool_box/printables/princesscrown.html

Today, he was wearing an acorn cap as a hat, so I brought out a crown. The prince reclaimed his throne.