the Advent calendar!

Two years ago, I spotted this advent calendar and was inspired to create one for our family. Well, it didn't happen that year, or last Christmas, so I was determined to make it this year. Then I saw that Jill was hosting a handmade advent calendar sew along (based on the same Inchmark project) and it gave me the motivation I needed to get started! I also found lots of inspiration in the Homemade by You Flickr group (especially Katie's gorgeous ornament! And oh, her plush nativity!! Next year...).
I decided that as long as I was making one for us, I would make another for our nephews to enjoy. I set out in early November making all the little felt ornament pairs. I used wool felt (instead of the standard poly felt), which was definitely worth the extra expense since I was making something that I want to keep and use for many years. I also ended up sewing a back layer of felt on each ornament, which made them much sturdier and covered up my stitches.
I embroidered the numbers 1-24 on felt squares, then machine-stitched those squares to the white fabric base. I also sewed the tree and 24 buttons to the white fabric.
For the finishing, I cut a patterned fabric backing and sewed a little label to it that says "made with love by mama, Christmas 2010". Then I sewed the two layers back to back with a red binding around the edge.
I finally finished both calendars earlier this week, so we missed the first week of December, but we will enjoy it until Christmas and for many years to come. I hung it in our great room, right at Lachlan's level, so that he can add another ornament to the tree every morning. I'm so glad that I took the time to complete this project (even though I feel quite behind on the rest of my Christmas preparations!).

pine cone garland

pine cone mosaic
Originally uploaded by Kirsten W

I've been using all my bits of free time over the last few weeks (including those when I would normally be blogging) to work on a special Christmas decoration/gift/keepsake. That project is almost finished, so I hope to share it here later this week. But until then - here is a pine cone project that Lachlan and I made around Thanksgiving time. First we went on a pine cone hunt in our yard, then we painted and glittered them and I hung some on a ribbon above our kitchen sink. The "rejects" are residing in a glass bowl on our dining room table, and they look lovely, too. It is as simple as can be, but I love how naturally festive they look hanging in our kitchen. Today we put up some other Christmas decorations - it is so much fun to pull out the boxes and rediscover all the pretties!

Kenley at 5 months

It is clear that you are a social baby, little Kenley. You connect with everyone around you, smiling, cooing, and blowing bubbles. Several people have exclaimed "she's batting her eyes at me" when talking to you, so I think that makes you a flirt! You are also working on some new sounds, including a very loud, shrill scream, and a low growl. Lachlan is still the main attraction for you. When he is in the room, you are always watching him, and he gets laughs from you easily and often.

You are still rolling from back to tummy, but not really the other way yet. It's not for lack of leg strength, though. When you are in your bouncy seat or car seat, you kick them so much that you getting rockin' and rollin'! The chewing and drooling continues and I'm convinced a tooth will pop through any day now. You still sleep pretty well at night, but you are definitely a cat-napper during the day. Sometimes I feel like I spend more time walking and bouncing you to sleep than you actually sleep.

Unfortunately, you're having an issue with your birthmark right now. We've been to see a pediatric dermatologist because it started bleeding (or as they say, "ulcerated"). The doctors are not too concerned, but it sure is hard for us to see you in pain! Luckily, a few smiles and extra snuggles is all it takes to cheer you up again after it is hurting.

You had your first Halloween experience this month. Lachlan suggested that you dress as a baby mermaid, so I sewed a sparkly green tail for you, and stitched a couple felt shells to a onesie for the top. You looked adorable, and were a big hit at my preschool parade at work. Not many people got to see your costume while we were trick-or-treating, since you were all bundled up and sleeping in the stroller.

Halloween fun

We had a fun Halloween weekend around these parts. Saturday we visited the Iowa City Farmer's Market for the last time this season. It became part of our weekly routine to go have breakfast and wander the market this summer. I know both Lachlan and I will miss it until next year.
After the Farmer's Market, we stopped to visit dada at work and show off Kenley and Lachlan's costumes. Lachlan wanted to be a robot and when I questioned him about the details, he said "a yellow robot, like Plex". So Plex from Yo Gabba Gabba was what we went for. I sewed the costume using black and yellow fleece, some great silver fabric, and heavy duty interfacing to hold the shape. His headpiece was just attached to a headband.

Lachlan also suggested that Kenley should be a baby mermaid. That ended up being a perfect costume to fit into our annual teacher theme at Preucil this year - characters from Peter Pan (I went as Wendy for the Friday parade). I found the perfect green scale fabric, cut it into strips, and sewed them to another piece of green fabric before making the tail with an elastic waist. For the top, I just sewed two felt shells onto a pink onesie. I did contemplate making a mermaid headband of some kind, but ran out of time and motivation for that.


We left our pumpkins uncarved until yesterday, so we worked on cleaning them out and designing and carving them in the afternoon. Lachlan was so funny, he insisted that the smallest pumpkin was his (I had pictured that one as Kenley's) and he wanted it to be "scary" and have a mustache. I had seen the carrot nose somewhere online, so we added that for some additional personality. Kenley observed the whole ordeal from her bouncy seat, which she can really get rocking hard these days.
When trick or treating time rolled around, we met up with our neighbors who have a little boy Lachlan's age and a brand new, two week old baby boy. The boys did a great job knocking on the doors, saying "trick or treat" and "happy halloween" and even "thank you"! They also brought home quite a haul of candy - our neighborhood doesn't have very many trick or treaters, so everyone is very generous with their candy.

Saturday morning

Sleeping in a bit (my high school self would not have believed it if I said 8 am was sleeping in)... chilly trip to the Farmers Market... dishes, laundry... a little bit of work on Halloween costumes...turning on the heat for the first time...watching Sadie and Lachlan play together, love that they're both finally ready for that...giving my girl some extra snuggles and kisses...

Kenley at 4 months

We have certainly been blessed to have such a happy, smiley baby, little Kenley! Every time someone talks to you, you start to grin and wiggle. I love how your arms and legs wave and kick when you get excited. You are still fascinated with your hands. Now you've started to grab for toys, especially your Minnie Mouse, and your babysitter Carissa's long red hair. You also love to grab your pacifier and yank it out of your mouth, although you get frustrated when you can't get it back in.

You started to roll over four days ago while we were visiting grandma and papa. You roll from your back to your tummy, and you're getting better at wiggling your arms out of the way and pushing up. Hopefully you learn to roll from your tummy to back soon, because you get upset when you get stuck on your belly. We also visited the zoo, the Farmers Market, and Uncle Thor and Caeli's house while we were in Des Moines. You aren't old enough to connect with where we are yet - but you always notice who is there. You are especially interested in watching what your brother is up to, of course.

Earlier this month we took a family trip to Kansas City. Thankfully, long car rides seems to make you sleepy, so you were a great traveler. While dada was at training meetings for work, you and I and Lachlan had some adventures at the Children's Museum, the science museum and a sculpture garden.

Hello, October

We're enjoying the first day of October outside in the afternoon sunshine. After I took this photo, I was reminded of another one I took a couple years ago...

Kenley at 3 months, October 2010

Lachlan at 3 months, July 2008

...and then there were 3.

And one of them was a *real* goofball.