tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59278330705852737962024-02-28T18:44:33.071-05:00Ulixis CraftsA little crafting blog. I love writing about creating with paper, beads, buttons, food and pretty much anything else I can get my hands on. Keep an eye out for recipes and an item of the day featuring the wonderful artists of Etsy.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.comBlogger2257125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-58152351471830393412018-02-11T12:50:00.000-05:002018-02-11T12:50:26.087-05:0012 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The last three weeks have been a whirlwind! First, we had a week of birthday party preparations. Then, we had a week filled with a well-baby appointment and daycare visits - and capped with a sick weekend. Then, just this past week, we started daycare (and I went back to work).<br />
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Of course, I've been meaning to blog through it all, but... well. I thought I was short on time before! I'm going to try my best to catch up on a few things today, starting with the last of our monthly updates. I didn't even take proper photos for this - the plan was to capture some "good" ones last weekend, but then Marc had a fever so we just lay low instead. These two photos were captured on Marc's birthday, along with plenty of others I will save for a future post detailing his big day and party.<br />
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As you can see, Marc had his first haircut this month! Here's a before photo:<br />
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I knew it would, but I was still blown away by how much it changed his look! He is such a little boy now... my baby is gone. I'm not ready!<br />
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Marc was officially walking before his first birthday! He's getting stronger and steadier every day. At this point, he chooses to walk more often then he crawls and he's getting pretty fast too! He's also getting good at carrying things or clapping / waving his hands around while walking. Along with walking, Marc has figured out how to climb. He loves getting on the 2-step stool we have in the kitchen and can't get enough of climbing onto the couch (and racing us to the side table for anything he can get his hands on).<br />
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We've been switching out milk for formula this month. He still prefers if it's warm, but he will drink cold milk now (which is a lifesaver since we don't have to bring any formula to daycare). Once we finish the last 3 boxes of formula in our cupboard, I'll be putting away the bottle warmer and sterilizer. EEK! I won't really miss dealing with all that... but I kind of will too. Where has the year gone????<br />
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You can tell that Marc's understanding more and more each day too. He knows what we mean when we say it's time for a bath, bum change, dinner, snack, etc. He knows he isn't supposed to get into certain things (kitchen drawers, mommy's bookshelf) and will look at you slyly as he's about to get into those very things. Now we're listening intently for his babbling to turn into distinct words!<br />
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A whole year.... and what a year it has been. Here's to another great year of reaching milestones and learning new things!</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-90214413272474049422018-01-19T16:18:00.001-05:002018-01-19T16:18:52.218-05:002018 Goals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I decided not to continue the trend I've been on (16 goals in 2016, 17 goals in 2017) and keep things a little simpler this year: 12 goals. I made them as achievable and measurable as possible. And I'm going to set quarterly reviews instead of monthly - reviews where I can add or remove goals if it fits. Life is only getting busier and I need to simplify where ever possible!<br />
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So far, I'm pretty happy with how these are shaping up though:<br />
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<b>2018 GOALS:</b><br />
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<li>Read 30 books.</li>
<li>Journal and sketchbook daily. </li>
<li>Finish 2 cross-stitch projects.</li>
<li>Blog weekly.</li>
<li>Meal plan and veggie prep weekly.</li>
<li>Establish a new morning and evening routine once back at work.</li>
<li>Establish a consistent exercise routine.</li>
<li>Weekly games / date night.</li>
<li>Sign Marc up for swimming lessons all year.</li>
<li>Have family photos taken in the fall.</li>
<li>Get G1 license and start learning to drive.</li>
<li>Go camping at least once this summer.</li>
</ol>
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I'm tempted to blog about one goal a month, looking at my progress and motivations and just talk a little bit more about each one. We'll see if that works out. I tend to make big plans when it comes to blogging, but then it falls through. I'm not going to stress to much about it. Again: simplify! Plus, I'm tracking everything in my goals journal:</div>
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Similar to last year, I wrote out my goals and created logs so that I can easily track my progress. Some of them are simple, like the first goal above, and some of them are year-long:</div>
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I learned a few things from last year and made these logs a bit easier to follow. For example, the daily logs have the date listed along one side of the table so it's much easier to catch up when I invariably fall behind. Similarly, the weekly logs are sorted by month, so I don't have to count from the beginning each time. I tried to make everything just a little prettier too - helps staying on track when I actually want to open the book and look at it!</div>
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I'm using the goals journal for more than just this though - last year, I added in a bunch of recipes I loved and this year I added in a cleaning schedule: </div>
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Before baby, we were never very consistent with cleaning, usually leaving most of it to the weekend. This year, I've been able to do housework every day, throughout the day. Now that I'm going back to work, I can't exactly do that but I don't want to be spending a good chunk of the weekend cleaning either. So the goal is to do one load of laundry, dishes and one small area each evening so that the weekends are much more enjoyable!</div>
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Well, these are the things I'm planning on working on this year... what are your 2018 goals?</div>
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-12786962423762555902018-01-14T16:11:00.002-05:002018-01-14T16:11:53.065-05:002017 Goals Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">2017 was an amazing year. I can't believe it's already over. This year will always remain close to my heart as the year I became a mom; the year I grew and changed the most; the year where my priorities shifted from me to him, from the two of us to the three of us. In many ways, it was a difficult transition. But coming out on the other side, I wish I could relive it over and over again. Slow down and just be more present. Not worry about him not sleeping on his back and just enjoy having him asleep in my arms. Not worry about how he was being fed and just enjoy feeding him. Still, I do think I truly embodied my word of the year: savour. I tried to savour each and every moment, even the hard ones. And as we settled into routines (ever shifting routines, but routines nonetheless), it did get easier. These last few months have been pure joy... and I'm so sad it's over (and yet so grateful I've had over a year to enjoy this new little love). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">I just looked back and realized I never posted a goals update for November. Ah well - I haven't been blogging much lately. It seems like I can only focus on one or two hobbies at any time. I just don't have the time (or the concentration) for any more than that! And since I can't easily pull out my laptop without little fingers constantly trying to push keys or pull on the screen... I just haven't bothered. Still, I do enjoy blogging and really love being able to look back at older posts, remembering trips and projects and little moments of joy. So I'm keeping blogging on my goals list for 2018... but more on that later. First, let's review my goals from 2017:</span><br />
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17 GOALS FOR 2017:<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Read 30 books. <b><i>(17/30 = 57%)</i></b></li>
<li>Finish 2 cross-stitch patterns. <b><i>(1/2 = 50%)</i></b></li>
<li>Finish Amber art book and start a new one.<b><i> (did NOT finish)</i></b></li>
<li><s>Take monthly baby and family photos.</s> <b><i>(12/12 = 100%)</i></b></li>
<li>Journal or sketchbook daily. <b><i>(294/365 = 81%)</i></b></li>
<li>Set a schedule for blogging (weekly)<b><i> (40/52 = 77%)</i></b>, crafting (daily)<b><i> (218/365 = 60%)</i></b> and getting out of the house (3-4x weekly). <b><i>(47/52 = 90%)</i></b></li>
<li><s>Make and freeze meals for post-partum.</s></li>
<li>Gather 10 good crockpot recipes. <b><i>(5/10 = 50%)</i></b></li>
<li>Set a routine for exercising (3-4x weekly). <b><i>(14/52 = 27%)</i></b></li>
<li>Catalogue library. <b><i>(NOT done)</i></b></li>
<li>Organize, declutter, minimize, purge. <b><i>(some progress)</i></b></li>
<li><s>Figure out cloth-diapering, nursing/pumping and making baby food.</s> <b><i>(3/3 = 100%)</i></b></li>
<li><s>Stay in touch with friends while on maternity leave.</s> <b><i>(done)</i></b></li>
<li><s>Be intentional deepening relationship with Pat. Set weekly date nights.</s> <b><i>(52/52 = 100%)</i></b></li>
<li>Go to a weekly drop-in session or mother/baby class. <b><i>(21/25 = 84%)</i></b></li>
<li>Make a fabric book and a colour sorting game for Marc. <b><i>(NOT done)</i></b></li>
<li><s>Use fresh herbs and tomatoes from the garden as much as possible and preserve them come the fall.</s> <b><i>(done)</i></b></li>
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I mean, wow! I think this has been the most successful of any of my yearly goals lists! I'm pleased with myself. The only goal that I usually manage to crush no problem - reading - is a bit disappointing. But like I said: it was impossible to keep up with all the hobbies I enjoy. I had to balance those with other activities, exercise, housework and baby care. So throughout the year, I went through different waves of creativity: some months I spent more time painting, others stitching. And I'm OK with that. Once I go back to work, things are only going to get busier... so I guess this was a little preview on how things will continue to be. One small bonus is that I have a solid hour plus of commuting time that I can devote to reading!<br />
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Looking back, one thing that really helped me keep track of my goals - and work towards accomplishing them - was my goals journal. This journal started out as a bullet journal, but since I prefer to keep an actual agenda instead of creating my own, it turned into a goals tracker. And I loved it. I've already started updating it for 2018. I'll share some photos with my next post outlining my 2018 goals.</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-91844650465855724222018-01-05T21:00:00.003-05:002018-01-05T21:00:43.137-05:0011 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My baby isn't such a baby anymore. In fact, it might be time to start referring to him as a toddler... he is toddling around now, after all.<br />
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That's right. Marc turned 11 months old at the end of December, and he's been taking some unassisted steps. In fact, he's managed about 4 or 5 in a row (and more than that by now). He's still tentative - and still prefers to do it on him own. If we try to stand him up, he usually flops down like a limp piece of spaghetti. Mr Independent!<br />
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He is still not a fan of napping... the week before we left on holidays, he was taking <i>very</i> short naps, once a day. The other "naptime" was spent alternatively crying, screaming and chatting away with himself in his crib. Napping over the holidays? VERY difficult (understandably so - strange place, strange bed and, in the case of my parents' place, a not-so-dark room to boot). Luckily, our parents live about an hour apart, so he at least got a few naps during those drives. And Pat became very good at putting him to sleep before putting him down, since he wouldn't put himself to sleep like he usually does at home. Now that we're back home, things have levelled out - naps are still iffy, but better. And he sleeps like a champ at night (around 12 hours), so I can't complain.<br />
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Marc eats very well - he just isn't a big fan of veggies. Sweet potatoes are his favourite and carrots are pretty good too. Anything else? Not so much. He did eat a lot of mashed potato over the holidays, but only so much before he refuses. Fruit though? Yes please! He LOVES fruit, as well as crackers, "cookies" (arrowroot, digestives or graham crackers), cheese and whole grain bread. He'll eat scrambled eggs if I cook them with apple and cinnamon. And he often has leftovers from what we've had for supper (shepherds pie, chicken and dumplings, soup, and stew, to name a few). He's getting better at feeding himself, though I still feed him breakfast (oatmeal isn't really finger food) and dinner (so that he gets a good meal before bed). He still takes a bottle, though this next month is dedicated to weaning (off both the bottle and formula).<br />
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Speaking of the holidays, Marc was spoiled rotten! We had an advent "calendar" of wrapped books for him - so by the time Christmas rolled around, he was well rehearsed in ripping paper. Opening the box? Not so much. He did enjoy playing with the boxes though.. haha. I've kept out all his new toys too (I'm going to put a few away soon so that I can rotate them and keep them "fresh" for him), and he's been playing with all of them daily. He's great at independent play - though prefers when I'm sitting in the living room chair or - even better - on the living room floor.<br />
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Marc is playing more and more appropriately with toys: stacking cups and rings and "driving" vehicles. Cars and trucks are still his absolute favourite. He also love anything with music - he received a few for Christmas and plays with all of them each waking period of the day. He also LOVES soft things. He'll pull the blankets off the couch and smoosh his face into them. His soft plush toys get the same treatment (so many wide-open-mouth kisses!). He also "reads" his books each wake time, pulling them off the shelf and paging through them. Needless to say, the trucks one Pat picked up for Christmas is one of his favourites! Unfortunately, he also likes pulling mommy's books off the shelf.... and still doesn't quite understand the meaning of NO (or rather, he does, but likes making me get up to stop him..).<br />
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Lately, he's been imitating us more too. Blowing raspberries is his favourite - he'll do it in response to kissing noises as well as blowing and whistling. He'll lift his hands with I tell him to (during diaper changes) - sometimes hesitantly because he knows the tickles are coming! He's waved a few times recently, has started handing us things (especially little pieces of dirt or dust) and has managed to stand up without assistance... though these developments are post-11 months I think. The days really blend into each other!<br />
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We've been cloth diapering almost exclusively for a few months now. The only time we used disposables within the last month was to travel (four hours in the car each way - the short trips between our parents was fine with cloth). And shortly before the holidays we started using cloth overnight. I use a fitted diaper with a cover and hemp doublers for extra absorbency. It's been great! I love our cloth diapers... I wish I hadn't waited to long to start!<br />
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We've upgraded to 12-18 month clothes this month. It's always so heartbreaking to pack away my favourites... but so much fun to try on new things! The sleepers are always the first to turn over - especially now with the extra fluffy nighttime bum! It's funny to me how variable different brands are in their sizing - some are really wide but short and other long and skinny. And within the same brand the fleece sleepers are smaller than the cotton... so weird. Just means we have a few different sizes that fit right now.. and he already seems to be outgrowing some of the 12 month sizes... yikes! Slow down little man!<br />
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This coming month is all about preparing for daycare. The biggest thing I'm unsure about is wake time. Currently, Marc wakes up around 7:30. I need to be on the train at 7. Do I wake him so we can all leave together? Or do I head out while he's still sleeping and Pat gets him ready to go? Not sure what our best bet is... I just know, based on our schedules, Pat will drop him off and I will pick him up. Otherwise, I ordered clothing labels with his name on them yesterday. And I need to contact daycare next week to set up a few days where we can slowly transition before our start date. Oh how I'm dreading the 5th of February! I know Marc will be fine once we get into the routine... but my heart?! Oh man. NOT excited one bit.</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-80292182985120800992017-12-07T07:00:00.000-05:002017-12-07T07:00:00.576-05:0010 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Marc is 10 months old! It doesn't seem possible that 2017 is almost over but here we are. And being December, it will be over in a flash of sparkling lights and glittery sugar! I'm actually super excited about the holidays this year - last year, I just wanted to get through them; I had something much bigger weighing on my mind (and belly)! This year, we are soaking it in, one dazzled smile at a time.<br />
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This month, Marc is still practicing his standing without support. He's become very strong and more and more confident each day. He'll stand near the couch or stool or coffee table and play with something with both hands (see first picture below). He doesn't really like letting us act as support though, unless I'm sitting on the ground and he can use my legs or body. If we try to pull him up with our hands or walk him forward, he's usually a bit of a dead weight. We're working on it!<br />
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Marc suddenly figured out how to clap this month. It's adorable! He knows what he's doing too and will usually start clapping if we ask him to. He'll also take my hands and clap them together (and thinks it's hilarious). We're still working on waving and pointing but I realize that I just don't do these things as often as clapping throughout the day.<br />
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Marc is also starting to play more appropriately with toys now (instead of just sticking them in his mouth). He can place the rings back on the stand and fit the cups back into each other. He hasn't managed to complete the entire stack of either, but we're getting there. He'll place blocks back into the box and "drive" his cars and trucks around the living room (and sometimes into the kitchen if that's where I am). He also loves soft toys or blankets - hugging and kissing them into the ground, rubbing his face in their softness.<br />
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Marc is getting into EVERYTHING. His dresser drawers (out come the clothes), the kitchen drawers (ooooh, plastic bags!), the kitchen cabinets (pots and pans!)... basically everything I don't want him in. He knows it too - as soon as he hears me follow him into the kitchen, he'll look back at me guiltily before hurrying up to try to get there before me. We've since started baby-proofing, but haven't quite figured out what will work best with the drawers. He knows when the gate is open too and crawls as quick as he can to try to get out. He's a little monkey and I'm almost sort of dreading him getting the hang of walking because he'll only be that much faster!<br />
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In terms of eating, Marc feeds himself lunch every day. He LOVES berries the most and pomegranate arils are pretty good too. Cheese is another favourite. Cheerios, Goldfish, arrowroot cookies and soft crackers are all great snacks. He's become pickier with veggies though - sweet potato is one of the only ones he'll eat happily. Potatoes, anything green, cauliflower, squash... yuck (unless, sometimes, I can cover the taste with cheese or fruit). The meat he's tried so far is only okay - I blended some chicken with dried apricots and if you warm it up with more apricot (or other dried fruit compote) it's pretty good.<br />
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A few more odds and ends: Marc has 4 teeth (the 2 middle ones on the bottom and the 2 on either side of the middle ones at the top) and is currently working on the top middle ones. As soon as Marc hears daddy come home, he rushes to the gate with a big smile and presses his face into it. Cutest thing ever! He hugs around my neck really tightly now, which melts my heart every time (and breaks it when I'm trying to put him to bed and he immediately stands up and reaches toward me as I step out the door). Marc loves his books, his bath, and his swimming lessons, and enjoys going to the drop-in to play (but not so much to sit still for songs and story time). We're cloth diapering almost exclusively now (except for over night and during longer outings). It's going very well - I'm planning on blogging about that soon.<br />
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These last few months have been my absolute favourite. I love that Marc is getting more independent and mobile. I love his hugs and kisses and when he reaches up to be picked up. I love when he acts shy around others paying attention to him, turning his head into my shoulder with a sweet smile. I love all his funny faces. I absolutely cannot wait for him to experience Christmas - we're already starting to lay the foundation for our family traditions and it is the best feeling. Warm and fuzzy all around. </div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-6401719744758129512017-12-06T07:35:00.000-05:002017-12-06T07:35:17.915-05:00Family Photos 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been meaning to have family photos taken... well, all year really. As much as I would have liked newborn family photos, I was a bit too overwhelmed with the newness of motherhood to figure it all out in February and then time just has a way of slipping away from me lately. Anyway, I finally bit the bullet in October and found a local photographer (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/anastassiabnphotography/">B&N Photography</a>) doing mini holiday sessions this month. Here are my favourites of the resulting photos:<br />
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I opted for an outdoor location - Jack Darling Park in Mississauga - over the studio, mostly because I wanted to capture some of those glorious fall colours. Of course, it snowed the day prior to our shoot... which would have been lovely as well, but, being the GTA, it was all gone shortly after the snowfall. But it was cold, so we had to bundle up, which wasn't my first choice but turned out nicely all the same.<br />
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I chose to do a mini session because I had no idea how Marc would be... and am I ever glad. He was miserable! I think it was a combination of the cold and needing both a snack and a nap. He cried practically the entire time and basically wouldn't let me put him down. Pat and I left the park pretty disappointed - we didn't think we would end up with anything really all that good.<br />
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Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised when the photographer sent me our proofs! She was able to capture a few really awesome shots and even a few smiles. I love these candid moments and that little face in the first photo with the mugs is absolutely priceless!<br />
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I am so happy I went ahead and booked a family photoshoot. It's so nice to have some good photos of the three of us and I can't wait to frame a couple for our walls. I'll definitely be doing this again, and hopefully somewhat regularly too!</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-72014903431843307012017-11-20T14:52:00.001-05:002017-11-20T14:52:30.165-05:00Sketchbook Pages: Week 45 + 46<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Once again, I have not been very productive in my sketchbook. I've been working on some other goals and as such have found myself to be even busier than usual. So my sketchbook has fallen to the back of the bus.... I'm going to focus a bit more on it this week.<br />
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11/5 Make BIG Changes<br />
11/6 Borders<br />
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11/7 Starburst<br />
11/13 Bubble Tree<br />
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11/15 Goals<br />
11/16 Strangely Unsettling<br />
</div>
<b>Materials used:</b>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>washi tape</li>
<li>pencil crayon</li>
<li>Sharpie paint pen (gold)</li>
<li>Pilot Precise V5 pen</li>
</ul>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-72166479569713525162017-11-17T16:50:00.000-05:002017-11-17T16:50:22.826-05:00Baby Registry: Things We Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here are some of the smaller items we absolutely love and used (or continue to use) daily. I'll keep toys and food-related items for future posts, this is just all the other stuff we needed.<br />
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<b>sling</b><br />
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I <i>LOVED</i> my <a href="https://mobywrap.com/shop/moby-wrap">Moby wrap</a>. This was a necessity when Marc was under 6 months - it was the only way I could get him to nap until we figured out the perfect combination to get him to sleep on his own during the day (white noise + vibrations + DARK). I wore it while doing dishes and laundry, on short walks to the store and whenever Marc needed a bit of quiet time. It was a bit tricky to get on at first, but once I figured it out it was easy. I liked that as he got a bit bigger, we could still use it with his legs out. The only issue is that it is a very long piece of fabric: so if we were driving to the store, for example, I needed to get it on before going.<br />
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<b>carrier</b><br />
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Which is why we eventually picked up <a href="http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=49624886">this Infantino carrier</a> too. It's a lot easier to strap on quickly and allows Marc to sit facing outwards (or on our back, something we actually haven't tried). Pat also felt more comfortable wearing this as opposed to the wrap. It's comfortable and sturdy, so it's a great option for when you don't necessarily want to lug around a stroller.<br />
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<b>car seat cover</b><br />
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Since Marc was a winter baby, we used <a href="http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=12465681">this car seat cover</a> all the time. It fit perfectly over his car seat, so we would get him all buckled in before heading out the door. It was perfect in the car as well as during our long walks in the spring.<br />
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<b>bibs</b><br />
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I'll go into more length on the various types of bibs we use in my food-related post, but here are the ones we love for catching drool. I have to admit, while I was pregnant and for the first few months, I didn't think I would have Marc in bibs all day. He has so many cute shirts, why would I cover them up? And then the drool started... and hasn't let up yet! It is much easier to change a bib than a onesie! We started off with an Aden and Anais set (I can't find the dinosaur pattern we have, but <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/aden-anais-Bandana-Bib-Dove/dp/B01GA17A4G/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1510950641&sr=1-1&keywords=aden+and+anais">these are similar</a>) and <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/baby/little-unicorn-cotton-bandana-bib/812967021925-item.html?ikwid=bib&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=4">this Little Unicorn set</a> and I do love them. But in terms of fit and price, <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Bandana-Stylish-Absorbent-Settings-SKX01-CA/dp/B071V54F8N/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510950799&sr=8-1&keywords=alva+bib&dpID=51Xg2iqRQ2L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch">these</a> can't be beat. We got them off Amazon in <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Bandana-Stylish-Absorbent-Settings-SKX01-CA/dp/B071V54F8N/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510950799&sr=8-1&keywords=alva+bib&dpID=51Xg2iqRQ2L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch">packs of 8</a> - one set is by ALVA and the other set is by Mabay Baby but they are literally the exact same bibs. We just searched for the cheapest sets. The patterns are fun, but what I really love is how they fit. The inside is fleece, so they're cozy; they're very absorbent; and they have 2 sets of snaps so that Marc can continue wearing them as he grows. The snaps are key - any of his velcroed bibs are ripped off in a matter of minutes. They do say to hand wash but... HA! No. I machine wash and dry and they've held up just fine so far. Unfortunately, they're all quite stained now, but that's to be expected. I highly recommend stocking up on these!<br />
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<b>burp clothes</b><br />
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It goes without saying that we used our receiving blankets a lot - as burp clothes and to wipe up spit up (Marc was very pukey until he started on solids) - but <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/aden-anais-Classic-Burpy-Pack/dp/B01GA16H6I/ref=sr_1_6?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1510950501&sr=1-6&keywords=aden+and+anais">these Aden and Anais burp clothes</a> were particularly nice while I was breast feeding. Marc was a bit of a drippy drinker, so these saved my nursing bras, tank tops and shirts (I would tuck them into my open nursing bra). Another nice feature is that you can use them as bibs too; the size gives really good coverage and as you can see in this photo from a month ago, they'll fit for a while yet.<br />
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<b>diaper bag and change pad</b><br />
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Obviously, every mom needs a diaper bag. I basically never use a purse anymore! I love <a href="http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=67565936">my Skip Hop diaper bag</a> - I chose it for both the pattern (love!) and the shape/size/pockets. It also has extra little straps so that I can hang it from my stroller handle, which is really awesome since it leaves the under-stroller storage space open for groceries, our lunch bag or towels for when we go swimming. I also picked up <a href="http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=42251516">this Skip Hop change pad</a> - a small one came with the diaper bag, but I like that this one comes with a small container to hold wipes as well as a few pockets. This way, I can grab just this to go into the washroom for a diaper change instead of bringing the entire bag in. Extra convenience is essential!<br />
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<b>bath thermometer</b><br />
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We have this <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Safety-1st-Bath-Pal-Thermometer/dp/B00005BSMR/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1510953921&sr=8-3&keywords=safety+first+baby+bath+thermometer">Safety 1st rubber duck bath thermometer</a> which we still use all the time. I'm pretty sure I don't really need to use it anymore to know the proper temperature (practice makes perfect!) but it was really helpful when Marc was brand new and we had no idea what was safe. Now it's really just another bath toy!<br />
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<b>mobile</b><br />
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Pat's sister found us <a href="https://pehrdesigns.com/products/woodland-creatures-mobile">this woodland creatures mobile</a> for our not-really-a-theme-but-woodland-ish nursery. It's really cute! I love that it's handmade with felted wool and isn't super matchy-matchy with <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/baby/little-unicorn-cotton-muslin-quilt/812967020294-item.html?ikwid=little+unicorn&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=1">our woodland quilt</a> (one of the first things I purchased for Marc's room) but does still sort of match. Marc loved looking at it spin before he could flip himself over and now he loves trying to catch them when we hold him up to it. Although not a necessity, it's a really cute addition and made his room feel more like a nursery (which was really exciting when we were waiting for his delivery!).<br />
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I'm sure I'm forgetting some things, but these are some of our essential items. What are some of the smaller items you can't / couldn't live without? </div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-67193498226599488572017-11-15T17:22:00.001-05:002017-11-15T17:22:36.832-05:00Baby Registry: Bigger Items<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been meaning to post a little series on baby items - things we needed, things we never used, toys we love. I know that when I was expecting, I devoured as many of these lists as I could so that I could put together a comprehensive registry (and find quality toys as he grows). First, I'm going to start with the "big" things we needed and used (or still use):<br />
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<b>rocking chair / glider</b><br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4574/37556446015_d60d2c2b95_k.jpg" width="360" /></div>
We purchased our glider online from Best Buy (<a href="https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/graco-graco-parker-semi-upholstered-glider-and-nursing-ottoman-white-grey-06442-481/10441963.aspx?">this one is similar</a>). I love it! It's very comfortable, which was key since I was sitting in it for long periods of time (Marc was a very slow breastfeeder). It's still in Marc's room - we use it for morning bottles, bedtime stories and I'll sit in it while he plays in his room. We'll eventually move it out, but for now it's perfect.<br />
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<b>play pen with bassinet</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.costco.ca/Eddie-Bauer-Complete-Care-Playard-.product.100325638.html">This Eddie Bauer pack and play</a> is what we used as a bassinet in our room until Marc was around 6 months and we transitioned him to his crib. Now it's his bed when we travel to visit our family. Once we figured it out, it was very easy to assemble and dissemble. The nightlight/vibrator that came with it was a lifesaver: those vibrations plus a white noise app on my phone were key when teaching Marc to put himself to sleep. I originally liked this pack and play because it came with a shade (we could bring him outside in the summer!) but we've honestly never used it or the change table that came with it.<br />
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<b>play mat / "jungle gym"</b><br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="450" height="400" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4540/37556439305_92100ff823_k.jpg" width="225" />
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I chose <a href="http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=91998646">this play mat</a> because it could be converted into a ball pit and that sounded like a lot of fun! Marc <i>loved</i> it (especially the elephant that played music and flashed colourful lights)! It was great for him to stretch and wiggle and explore the dangling toys. Since this one is in his room, we purchased a second, smaller one for downstairs. We used both until he became mobile; then we put away the small one and converted the one upstairs into the ball pit which he still uses today.<br />
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<b>bath</b><br />
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I loved <a href="http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=20169836">this sling bath</a>! It was small enough to tuck away in his closet and we didn't have to figure out <i>where</i> we would use a tiny bathtub (our bathroom isn't big enough to put it on the floor or counter to wash Marc). It made washing Marc very easy until he could sit up on his own.<br />
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<b>change pad</b><br />
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I'm so glad we didn't waste money on an actual change table. <a href="http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=71053626">This pad</a> fits perfectly on Marc's dresser. We're still using it.<br />
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<b>diaper pail</b><br />
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I chose <a href="http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=91838776">this Ubbi diaper pail</a> (you can see it in the background of this photo) mostly because it uses regular garbage bags. I use it for both disposable and cloth diapers (depending what I'm using that day.. or both, I just can't use the little hatch for both at the same time). It holds in the smell very well and cleans up easily.<br />
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<b>stroller with car seat</b><br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="450" height="400" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4578/26667552299_f2526c425e_k.jpg" width="225" /></div>
We went with <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Eddie-Bauer-01184CTAG-TrailGuide-Jogger/dp/B071RWZD4B/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1510782029&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=eddie+bauer+stroller+with+car+seat+combo">this Eddie Bauer stroller and car seat</a>. I chose it because of how sturdy it is (it has 3 big wheels). It <i>is </i>big though, which makes navigating smaller stores a bit tricky, if not impossible. But for the most part, it's perfect. I like that the shade for the stroller fits over the car seat so that I can completely cover Marc if needed (awesome when the sun is in his face or when he would nap during our long walks in the spring). The car seat is easy to pop on and off the base and stroller and seems comfortable for our long trips to visit family. I have yet to use the stroller without the car seat, but once Marc is bigger I'm sure we'll get a lot of use out of that as well.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>high chair</b><br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4567/37726956814_5175612ce5_k.jpg" width="640" /></div>
We have <a href="http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=82017716">this Graco high chair</a>. I had no special reason for choosing it; it just does the job well. The seat cover and tray are easy to clean, although the cover is a little stained now. The straps are harder to clean and stained as well (though I don't see any way around that). It's sturdy and doesn't take up too much space in our dining room. The seat does fit onto a chair, with or without the tray - we haven't tried this yet, but I likely will once he's a bit bigger and eating at the table.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Things We Didn't Need</h3>
Now here are the big ticket items that we didn't end up using... I'm not saying you won't need them, but they just didn't work for our very active little boy:<br />
<br />
<b>swing</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Marc did not like the swing. Not sure if it was because he was stuck on his back with little to entertain him (which he still dislikes) or what, but we didn't use our swing more than a couple of times.<br />
<br />
<b>Bumbo seat</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Again, Marc doesn't like this seat. It isn't good to use before they're developmentally ready to sit on their own (since it forces their little back into an unsafe curve), and once he knew how to sit on his own, he didn't want to be restrained. Marc is a mover and definitely does not like to be contained.<br />
<br />
<b>Jumper</b><br />
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Which brings us to <a href="http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=101622786">the Jumper</a>. I don't regret buying this because Marc does enjoy playing with it - just a lot more now that he can stand around it instead of being stuck inside it. He was content to play for 10 or so minutes, but after that he just wants to move.<br />
<br />
Anyway, this is what did and did not work for us - what are some big ticket items you needed or ended up not needing?</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-57451060825660277092017-11-08T07:09:00.000-05:002017-11-08T07:09:09.716-05:00Wordless Wednesday: Coat and Hat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4487/26271129259_ece437d93b_k.jpg" width="640" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4511/26271124089_89fd9abf10_k.jpg" width="640" /></div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-42878622096799302662017-11-07T07:28:00.000-05:002017-11-07T07:28:05.552-05:00Sketchbook Pages: Week 44<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last week, I rediscovered the folder and tin of supplies I keep upstairs to make mixed-media pages a lot quicker and easier. I'm glad I did - these always end up being my favourite pages.<br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4585/37510948254_8fcd36d6d7_k.jpg" width="640" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4459/38166384496_92d1cb0892_k.jpg" width="640" /><br />
10/31 Halloween Night<br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4529/38166374326_b79363643e_k.jpg" width="640" /><br />
11/2 Lucky Numbers + Why<br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4542/38221735941_2f2ee1be56_k.jpg" width="640" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4558/38166358006_10b8e55f90_k.jpg" width="640" /><br />
11/3 Find Joy<br />
11/4 Craziness<br />
</div>
<b>Materials used:</b>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>assorted papers (scrapbooking, recycled)</li>
<li>washi tape</li>
<li>ballpoint pen</li>
<li>Sharpie (black, white, gold, purple)</li>
<li>pencil crayon</li>
</ul>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-9972535291262469892017-11-06T15:06:00.000-05:002017-11-06T15:06:03.003-05:00Sketchbook Pages: Week 43<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I didn't work much in my sketchbook this week, so I was going to combine it with week 44 but time is of the essence today. So here are 2 simple spreads from week 43:<br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4555/38221052421_1702a4e258_k.jpg" width="640" /><br />
10/22-23 Pumpkin Carving Ideas<br />
<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4448/26444777229_aafc60ce1b_k.jpg" width="640" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4547/38221047091_1ec1512c8d_k.jpg" width="640" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4571/26444768919_6fbecccbb8_k.jpg" width="640" /><br />
10/27 Seasonal Words<br />
10/28 Feminine<br />
</div>
<b>Materials used:</b>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>ballpoint pen</li>
</ul>
<br />
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-64549766867151522332017-11-02T11:05:00.000-04:002017-11-02T11:05:26.500-04:002017 Goals: October<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">October is one of my favourite months, and I feel like I was scammed out of it! What happened? Where did it go? How is it already November?! </span><br />
<br />
17 GOALS FOR 2017:<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Read 30 books. <b><i>(14/30)</i></b></li>
<li>Finish 2 cross-stitch patterns. <b><i>(1/2)</i></b></li>
<li>Finish Amber art book and start a new one.<b><i> (3 pages to finish up)</i></b></li>
<li>Take monthly baby and family photos. <b><i>(20/12)</i></b></li>
<li>Journal or sketchbook daily. <b><i>(28/31)</i></b></li>
<li>Set a schedule for blogging (weekly)<b><i> (4/4)</i></b>, crafting (daily)<b><i> (24/31)</i></b> and getting out of the house (3-4x weekly) <b><i>(4/4)</i></b>.</li>
<li><s>Make and freeze meals for post-partum. </s></li>
<li>Gather 10 good crockpot recipes. <b><i>(4/10)</i></b></li>
<li>Set a routine for exercising (3-4x weekly). <b><i>(4/4 - daily yoga is my next goal)</i></b></li>
<li>Catalogue library. <b><i>(no progress)</i></b></li>
<li>Organize, declutter, minimize, purge. <b><i>(no progress)</i></b></li>
<li>Figure out cloth-diapering <b><i>(pulled these back out and giving it another go - need to buy more)</i></b>, <s>nursing/pumping</s> and <s>making baby food</s> <b><i>(so much fun!)</i></b></li>
<li>Stay in touch with friends while on maternity leave. <b><i>(yes)</i></b></li>
<li>Be intentional deepening relationship with Pat. Set weekly date nights. <b><i>(4/4 - love playing Dominion on Saturday nights!)</i></b></li>
<li>Go to a weekly drop-in session or mother/baby class. <b><i>(4/4)</i></b></li>
<li>Make a fabric book and a colour sorting game for Marc. <b><i>(0/2)</i></b></li>
<li>Use fresh herbs and tomatoes from the garden as much as possible and preserve them come the fall. <b><i>(harvested the last of the tomatoes)</i></b></li>
</ol>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-7899357693587359782017-11-01T16:24:00.000-04:002017-11-01T16:24:12.308-04:009 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We are 3/4 of the way through Marc's first year and my mat leave. Yikes! Everyone wasn't kidding when they said that time flies! I think this period - the last month or two - has been the best so far. Marc is SO interactive now, playing with his toys and responding to things Pat and I do or say. It's adorable and I think Marc's getting cuter and cuter each day (no bias over here, nuh-uh)!<br />
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In the last month, Marc picked his belly up off the floor and truly figured out how to crawl. Of course, this increased his speed significantly, so we really need to watch out if we forget to close any of the gates (he spots those right away!). He no longer lets us help him stand - he'll go limp if we try to hold his hands and get him to walk. He can pull himself up onto anything though and cruises around the furniture like nobody's business, so I'm not sure why he doesn't want to with us anymore. I'm thinking it may be a bit of independence since he can do it on his own <i>mom</i>.<br />
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Marc has 4 teeth, though the two top ones (not the middle ones, but the ones beside those) have not yet fully come all the way down (you can't see them unless you pull his lip up... which doesn't happen haha). No sign of more yet. He eats very well and we try to have at least one meal a day where he feeds himself everything. Small pieces of cheese, banana and Cheerios are his favourite.<br />
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My favourite thing he currently does is "give kisses" - he's been doing this for a few months now, but lately he's associated the "nice kisses" we say with what he's doing and will sometimes do it when you ask (or give more). His kisses? Wide open mouth, "aaaaaah" and head shaking back and forth. It's the sweetest thing, especially when he grabs my head and pulls it to his face for more. *melt*<br />
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A few more favourite things: He thinks it's hilarious when I "eat" his toes. Taking off his socks is a fun game, as is peek-a-boo, hiding under blankets and behind the curtains, and playing with his many cars. He plays very well independently, going between the 6 "stations" we have downstairs: the discovery basket in the kitchen, the "garage" where all his cars are parked, the jumparoo (don't put him in it though!), the bookshelf with his toys, the toy basket in the living room and coffee table books on the TV stand. He walks his cart back and forth, exploring anything new or finding any cables or books we might have left laying around.<br />
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Right now we are transitioning from 3 naps to 2. It's a hard balance to find some days, depending on how well he slept the night, how early he went to bed and woke up and how hard he's been playing. But we're figuring it out (and I'm mourning the extra time I had to get things done alone!). No matter how hard the day has been, or how cranky Marc is, I'm trying to savour every single moment. Because I know the next 3 months will be over in a flash...</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-46553462614090052792017-10-27T09:07:00.002-04:002017-10-27T09:07:53.995-04:00Sketchbook Pages: Week 42<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I haven't been consistent about working in my "daily" sketchbook everyday... but that's mostly because I've been working on more detailed pages in my Amber or other art books. And I'm OK with that. The whole point of this goal was to make art daily - doesn't matter where or in what form. But when I'm short on time, this space is the best.<br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4484/37255568594_9fd1063318_k.jpg" width="640" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4497/24114275398_b662f4fb82_k.jpg" width="640" /><br />
10/15 Fall Washi<br />
10/17 Autumn<br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4462/24114265598_49130afe59_k.jpg" width="640" /><br />
10/18 Anger Unleashed<br />
10/19 Pink Baseball<br />
</div>
<b>Materials used:</b>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>assorted papers (magazine, scrapbooking)</li>
<li>washi tape</li>
<li>Sharpie pens (black, purple, silver, gold)</li>
<li>ballpoint pen</li>
</ul>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-14638541779043441732017-10-26T07:58:00.000-04:002017-10-26T07:58:01.788-04:00Altered Book Pages: Autumn Leaves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm really working hard to reach my goal of finishing my altered Amber vintage book. Recently, I finished up a page that I started ages ago. I just looked back through my photos and found the "completed" background in July. But I know the first steps are much older than that... years old! It feels good to be able to call this one done!<br />
<br />
Here's the background first:<br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4484/37880419686_22c81d0873_k.jpg" width="640" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4486/37902865832_86911eb529_k.jpg" width="640" /></div>
It's been so long, I don't exactly remember the steps I took for the background, but I have a vague idea based on these photos. When I was working on it in July, I know I already had a layer of paint down. Bright colours and some black. Anyway, I then added some collage elements and washi tape and a thin wash of gesso... and that's where it sat until last week. Here's what I did with that:<br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4445/37880219216_a9b3552b3e_k.jpg" width="640" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4448/26157490399_d70b6b33b7_k.jpg" width="640" /></div>
In July, all those colours were warm and summery. In October, they reminded me of fall foliage. So I roughly sketched out two leaves and painted their outline in black (with a hint of purple and blue). I added some copper paint to the leaves to really bring that autumn touch. A few doodles and ink splatter and I was done. I love the sketchy feel of those leaves!<br />
<br />
<b>Materials used:</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>assorted papers (handmade, tissue paper)</li>
<li>washi tape</li>
<li>paint and gesso</li>
<li>Sharpie pens (white, bronze)</li>
<li>India ink (black, orange)</li>
</ul>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-18993753797770312952017-10-25T09:20:00.000-04:002017-10-25T09:20:09.133-04:00Wordless Wednesday: Amber Altered Book<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-52418503571353135202017-10-24T13:29:00.000-04:002017-10-24T13:38:30.596-04:00Altered Book Pages: Guiding Light<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I signed up for <a href="https://www.lalymille.com/">Laly Mille</a>'s free week-long workshop / preview for her <a href="https://www.lalymille.com/layersoflight/">"Layers of Light" class</a>. It was incredibly inspiring. I completed this page in my altered Amber book as a result and I think it might be one of my favourite spreads yet. I didn't follow the exact steps she took for her painting in the class, but I let it lead me to my own guiding light.<br />
<br />
Before we began painting, Laly guided us through a meditation to focus on our inner light, our true North star. She gave us some hints and tips for finding and listening to our star. I immediately cleared my desk - the clutter was blocking my flow and I hadn't even noticed until I got rid of it all! I gathered a few items that were really inspiring to me and placed them in front of me. Next, since Laly used tarot cards for her inspiration, I decided to do a 3 card spread using my Klimt deck. <i>Oh. My. Goodness!!!</i><br />
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Normally I wouldn't share this as readings are personal, but just look what turned up! Here are the meanings: past = birth (umm.. hello, I'm on my mat leave right now!); present = identity crisis (totally still finding my place as a mother/artist/scientist); future = hope (<b>THE STARS!</b> I mean, seriously? That's what this entire class is about!). I seriously got chills when I turned up The Stars. Serendipitous.<br />
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Anyway, here's my "inspiration board" plus some of the papers I pulled out to start the collage:<br />
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That little cog / star-shaped wheel is what guided the shape of my star. I was visualizing it sending rays of light across a dark night sky. And that's exactly what I painted:<br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4506/37183657363_4ed2a4aa69_k.jpg" width="640" />
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I cannot emphasize enough just how much I love this piece! The texture and shimmer make my heart sing. I found it interesting how my inspiration board was very golden but my page ended up bathed in silvery moonlight. Something to explore further for sure!<br />
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If you're interested, you can see the steps I took below. I would highly recommend taking <a href="https://www.lalymille.com/layersoflight/">Laly's Layers of Light class</a> - she has such an intuitive way of painting and her soothing voice will surely guide you to find your own inner light.<br />
<br />
<b>Layers:</b><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>gesso</li>
<li>journaling (black Sharpie)</li>
<li>collage</li>
<li>gelatos (black around edges, purple/blue/silver in centre)</li>
<li>India ink drips </li>
<li>paint (alternating between dark and light)</li>
<li>a bit more collage, a bit more paint</li>
<li>collage tissue paper rays</li>
<li>finishing touches (izink, gelato, journaling with white and silver Sharpies)</li>
</ol>
<b>Materials used:</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>assorted papers (scrapbooking, recycled papers, vintage book pages, patterns, tissue paper, ephemera)</li>
<li> gelatos (metallic blue, metallic purple, metallic silver, black, white)</li>
<li>paint (Paynes gray, anthraquinone blue, oxide black, permanent blue violet, titanium buff light)</li>
<li>gesso</li>
<li>India ink (purple, black)</li>
<li>izink pigment (opaline)</li>
<li>Sharpie pens (black, white, silver)</li>
</ul>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-84209316329013624592017-10-19T10:06:00.002-04:002017-10-19T10:06:59.798-04:00Sketchbook Pages: September<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was looking back through my photos to see if there was anything I had been meaning to post but hadn't yet... and here we are. A few pages from my newest, large sketchbook.<br />
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I used pencil crayons to create these four portraits - inspired directly by <a href="https://janedavenport.com/online-workshops/beautiful-faces/">Jane Davenport's book Beautiful Faces</a>.<br />
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As you can see on that last page, I broke out some wax crayons and let Marc play with them... he didn't really colour so much as eat them while watching me make marks. I'll have to try again soon!</div>
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<div>
<b>Materials used:</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>pencil crayons</li>
<li>wax crayons</li>
<li>pens</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-5985379100682038152017-10-18T07:42:00.000-04:002017-10-18T07:42:04.424-04:00Sketchbook Pages: Week 41<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Still working in my sketchbook almost daily - bouncing around between scribbling with a pen and mixed-media collaging, depending on how much time I have to spend each day.<br />
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10/9 Happy Thanksgiving<br />
10/10 Eggplant<br />
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10/11 Scribbles<br />
10/13 Once..<br />
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10/13 Semi-Drunken Thoughts on a Friday Night</div>
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<b>Materials used:</b>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>assorted papers (scrapbooking paper, book pages, ephemera)</li>
<li>washi tape</li>
<li>stickers</li>
<li>ballpoint pen</li>
<li>Sharpie paint pen (white)</li>
</ul>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-29159034681652688962017-10-17T11:28:00.001-04:002017-10-17T11:28:13.148-04:008 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been meaning to get this post up for a couple of weeks now - before the lines start blurring and I no longer know what milestones Marc reached in months 8 or 9. I'm going to try to keep this to things he was doing 2 weeks ago (already there are new things he can do!). This little man is growing way way WAY too quickly!<br />
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This month wasn't so much about learning new tricks as it was about finessing. Marc is practising everything he can do: crawling, standing, climbing, walking and exploring everything he can get his hands (and mouth) on. He can creep all the way around the living room now - from TV stand to window to chair to couch. He's still army crawling, but is really trying to lift his belly more and more. He can climb up the stairs like a pro (mastered that on his first try!) and opens any drawer he gets his hands on. He's getting stronger and stronger every day.<br />
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He has his two bottom teeth and 2 bumps at the top (the two beside the two front teeth). Those bumps have been there a while though - a lot longer than the bottom ones before those erupted. They've come through now, but they weren't out yet when Marc turned 8 months. He's babbling a lot more, making tons of "nanana" and "bababa" and similar sounds. He gives the sweetest "kisses" (mouth wide open - "aaaaah" - eyes closed, shaking his head side to side as he head butts you). He eats like a champ (though dislikes any new vegetables until he's tried them a few times, usually mixed with a favourite) and has 3 solid meals now (plus his morning bottle). I'm still making all of his food and having so much fun with it.<br />
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Marc loves the pool: we're there at least twice a week. We went downtown twice (he was amazing on the train both times). We go to a drop-in session at an early years centre (in an old age home) once a week - he loves investigating all the new toys there, especially the big trucks. We bought a little cart / toy box on wheels at IKEA and he loves pushing it back and forth across the living room (on his knees as it rolls too fast for him to get up... or at least it was up until a couple of days ago). Marc loves books and is constantly pulling them off his (or my) bookshelf and pages through them (or munches on them).<br />
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We secured daycare this month. I'm so not looking forward to February! It's going to be hard. He'll have his own little life that I'm not a part of anymore... but he'll be fine. Once we settle into a routine, I know he's going to love it.
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Marc is the best part of each day. Watching him with his daddy makes my heart explode every time. Here's to another fun-filled month of discovery! </div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-83384832813948030732017-10-13T07:24:00.000-04:002017-10-13T07:24:05.429-04:00Sketchbook Pages: Week 40<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This daily sketchbook practice is getting more and more routine. If I miss a day, I get right back into it. After years of having "sketchbook daily" as an annual goal, I can finally cross it off! Of course, although I may not include it as a goal for next year, this is a ritual that I hope to continue.<br />
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10/1 Cornucopia<br />
10/2 Our Weekly Schedule<br />
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10/3 Crushing It<br />
10/4 Strong<br />
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10/6 Work It<br />
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10/7 Family</div>
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<b>Materials used:</b>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>assorted scrapbooking paper</li>
<li>markers</li>
<li>ballpoint pen</li>
</ul>
<br />
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-14555381472945931162017-10-12T07:54:00.000-04:002017-10-12T07:54:13.033-04:00Sketchbook Pages: Week 39<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As you saw in my last post, I started working in a new sketchbook for my daily pages. This is an old sketchbook that I started back in 2012 for 366 Pages. Anyway, I challenged myself this week to only use the simplest of materials and techniques: pens, pencils, markers and lots of doodling and mark making. The sheer simplicity meant I was more likely to quickly scribble out a page... and subsequently be inspired to do more.<br />
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9/23 Shift<br />
9/24 Pastel Shapes<br />
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9/26 8 Months<br />
9/27 Bubblegum<br />
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9/28 Fall Temperatures<br />
9/29 Swim<br />
</div>
<b>Materials used:</b>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>markers</li>
<li>pencil crayons</li>
<li>ballpoint pen</li>
</ul>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-80241689578207340432017-10-11T13:43:00.000-04:002017-10-11T13:43:11.789-04:00Wordless Wednesday: Autumn Vignette<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927833070585273796.post-81588615886326142542017-10-04T13:14:00.000-04:002017-10-04T13:14:56.691-04:00Sketchbook Pages: Creative Journey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was planning on taking photos of my sketchbook today to catch up on my daily pages... but it's pouring rain now with very poor lighting for a photoshoot. So I browsed through my September folder and found these photos I never shared. So here's another look into my Creative Journey altered book - a place to play and experiment with new techniques and materials and not feel the need to "finish" anything.<br />
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I love this little book: it's fun, plain and simple.</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00054727029977931956noreply@blogger.com1