Moving Sites

We've moved, blog Web sites that is. I'm switching everything over to Word Press. So the new blog address is www.growingupgreen.wordpress.com. See you there!

Crazy Around Here

Things are just really busy around the Green house right now. We are weening Gaby off baby food and she doesn't seem too happy about it. How can giving up a bottle be easier than giving up pureed vegetables and fruit? Thank goodness for mac and cheese, bananas, and bread!

The ceiling saga has continued, but is finally wrapping up. We got both the kitchen and bathroom ceilings sprayed on this weekend! You can barely tell there were ever holes through the ceiling. So some minor clean up, paint, and a little wood working and we'll finally have our bathroom back. I'm very excited. I'll post some before and after pictures once all is said and done.

I've had absolutely no time for anything crafty. Between studying for the course I'm taking right now and keeping up with Gaby, I don't feel like I have too much extra time. I've decided to hold off on the next class since it is right before Christmas. I want to feel like I have a little time to prepare. Plus, I have a bunch of projects I want to work on. I'm feeling selfish and want a little me time and some more family time. Take care everyone. Hopefully about four weeks from now, this will be a more interesting read.

Two Projects Done

I picked up my china painting brush to work on a gift for my mom's birthday. She collects tea pots, so now with a little granddaughter, I thought she needed a personalized tea set for two. This project came together so easily; I wondered why it has been so long since I've picked up a paint brush. The lavender oil in my painting medium is so relaxing and when the paint lands on the piece just right the first time, I feel a great sense of satisfaction each time I pull a piece out of the kiln. I really need to paint more often. Enough about me.

Gaby's floor pillow is done and she loves it! She loves to sit and read a book or play with toys on it. No more dog pillows for her. Luckily, we've been able to keep Ike off of it. This was my first major sewing project and I'm hooked. I've got lots of ideas for other things to make.

Gaby update: We go for her 15 month check-up in a few weeks, and I won't be surprised if she's lost a few pounds but grown an inch. The child runs everywhere she goes. Plus, I hear myself in the few things she does say. The other night she was standing up on the couch, jumping, and I said, "Gaby, on your bottom." She plopped down, looked at me, and smiled as she said "Good girl." I realized that every time I've told her to sit on her bottom, I've followed it with "Good girl." She says "Hi" to everyone right now, and is quickly becoming Daddy's girl. They are big-time pals. The time is going way too fast watching her grow up!

We're Still Here...

We're still here. Things have been pretty busy over the past couple of weeks, unexpectedly so. With the whole bathroom ceiling collapse, my 9-week summer class wrapping up, and the 15-month old investigator things have been kind of crazy around our house lately.

Mitch is coming along on the bathroom. We are both just ready for the project to be completed. I'll post pictures and the whole story when it is finished. We're both just ready to have our house back to normal.

I picked some tomatoes with my dad on Friday, so Mitch and I could spend Saturday canning salsa. Hours of work produced only 12 jars of salsa. It is kind of disappointing right now, but I have to remind myself in December the reward will be completely worth the frustration I'm feeling now. But, if I do say so myself, the salsa tastes darn good.

I have to give a huge presentation this week in my class, so wish me luck. I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend this coming weekend.

Gaby is, of course, expanding her vocabulary all the time. She says "no" to everything right now. She uses "eat" and "yum" frequently. "Hi" is another current favorite phrase. It is so much fun watching our little explorer check out the world around her.

I hope this finds you all doing well. Maybe things will eventually settle down, probably not.

Swimming and Other Fun

Our offices were at noon today, so my mini vacation (at home) started a few hours early. My favorite Chinese restaurant was closed so I met Linda (Mitch's mom), Jess (Mitch's cousin) and, of course, Gaby at the second choice. Although it was my second choice, the food was great. By the way, Gab loves Egg Drop Soup and the peas from the fried rice. After we filled our bellies with rice and various fried foods, Gaby and I stuffed ourselves into our bathing suits, slathered on the sunscreen and ventured out on the deck for some back yard swimming. She had a blast. Obviously, she had too much fun because she never got settled down for a nap and went to bed by 7:00. We're looking forward to tomorrow. Mitch and I are dropping Gaby off at my mom and dad's for the morning while we meet our neighbor for a golf outing. My first time out in two years--wish me luck.


So, with the early bedtime, I have some time to get a few projects going that I've been itching to start. I've been absolutely inspired by other blogs I've been reading. These women are amazing sewers, knitters, crafters, you name it--all while they go about their varied, busy lives. So, I thought, why don't I join them and share some of my projects along with the stories that go with them.







The pictures above are of fabric and the pattern for a floor pillow I'm going to make for Gaby. It is pretty shades of pink, that will last her for a long time (not too little girl). Ike is our wonderfully patient Lab, and Gab loves to lay on Ike's floor pillows. When I saw a pattern for this pillow I knew my girl had to have it. The pattern is an Amy Butler pattern I picked up while visiting my sister, Jessie, a couple weekends ago. Each petal on the flower is going to be made from a different pink fabric. Right now I'm taking a break from ironing all the fabric before I can even get started with the fun part. Wish me luck. I know the girl will love it.

In the Past Month

She thinks Mom's sunglasses are pretty cool.










We've been pretty busy over the past month. Gaby is getting steadier when she walks. Plus, she's starting copy catting things we do. She has figured out how to get in and out of a car she got from Grandma and Grandpa Green for her birthday. She is just a lot of fun to watch. She continues to bring so much joy to our lives. Every day is something new.

First Birthday

We had Gaby's birthday party the Saturday after her birthday. She didn't take very good naps that day, so by 5:00 she was grouchy as can be. She didn't want anything to do with her cake. She wasn't too into her presents. Not much made her happy. However, everyone else had a great time.

I dressed Gaby in the Easter dress she didn't get to wear because it was too cold. She looked adorable. The party was Elmo themed, so I borrowed an Elmo cake pan and made her cake. When she got in the car and saw a huge Elmo face sitting next to her, she got pretty excited. Mitch's sister Melissa brought the bounce house her boys got for Christmas a couple years ago. All the kids that came to the party had a blast.

Next year, should be better.

She Loves Her Swing

Gaby loves to swing! Mitch put this swing under our deck. Then Grandma VanPool and I took Gaby to the park. She didn't know what to think of that swing first, but she quickly warmed up to it. These pictures were taken mid-March.

I promise to be a better blogger

I promise, I will be a better blogger. I was unbelievably busy with work from March through May. Now things have significantly slowed down and I hope to update the blog with new pictures and family goings-ons. I have a mid-year resolution to better keep up with the blog.
Ang

Getting Big

At Gab's 9 month well-baby visit she was 30 inches and just over 24 pounds. No question the girl is growing. Sometimes she looks like such a little grown-up. Crawling is a piece of cake now. We think it won't be long before she's walking. Still no teeth; although, by her fussiness this weekend and the fact that absolutely everything is in her mouth we might see some soon. We hope you are all doing well.

p.s. I tried to post some pictures, but never could get them to load.

Two Firsts This Week!!!

We are so excited! Gab has started crawling and said her first word.

She's been pulling up on everything for a couple of weeks now, so we started wondering if she would just kind of skip crawling and go straight to walking. Tuesday night she finally crawled. She prefers to have her pants off when crawling (we guess that it's easier for her that way). She's also started pulling up in her crib. So for the last two mornings when I go in and get her out of bed, she greets me with her head peeking overthe rail of her crib and with a big smile on her face. It's a wonderful sight.

Her first word, as we expected, was "Ike." She loves him, and ever since she started the army crawl she's followed him around as best she can. She got real excited last night she blurted out "IKE!" Then she said it several more times. This afternoon when I picked her up from Linda's, I had Gab show off her new trick. Blake was impressed and then asked if she could say Oreo (the name of Linda's dog). It was too cute!

Now if we can get some teeth in and get over this cold.

Christmas

We're a little slow updating everyone, but here are some Christmas pictures. We had Christmas Eve at both grandparents' houses. Then, we had Christmas morning at home. Gaby wasn't too interested in opening presents, but she did want to play with her toys. She's having a lot of fun playing with all her new stuff. These are a few of the pictures.