Amidala can moo, can you?

Amidala has been learning new animal sounds at school as this month's theme is animals. She also got some puzzles for her birthday and when we do them I make the sounds. She will pick up the cow and I'll say oh do you know what sound the cow makes? He says moo. So since starting this she now knows what the cow and sheep say in addition to the kitty. Before everything said meow. So since she learned this I decided to try and read Mr. Brown can moo, can you? The first night it was a no go she threw the book on the floor and said bed please, so I put her in the crib and she laid back with her dolly, blankie and my teddy. So last night I picked up the book again and we read it with her turning the pages faster than I could read or make the sounds. The sounds I did make got a laugh and smile which is nice to see.
Amidala has been doing great with her words and using them when she chooses but her vocabulary has gotten huge and is at the point where Anakin and I spell things in front of her and find ourselves editing ourselves because we don't want her to repeat what we say. Last night for Valentine's Day Anakin brought home some chocolate covered strawberries which are my favorite and Amidala wanted one. So I got it out and brought it to her and said "I'll hold it". As really didn't want it all over my kitchen. She responded to me by saying, "No mom. I'll hold it." I was surprised and shocked she said it so I gave to her and said ok.
She's getting so big but so much fun!
This weekend was a busy one for us, Anakin and I celebrated Valentine's Day and we did a lot of work around the house. I did get to work on my 101 this weekend which I was excited about. I have put some crocheting on hold for right now. I made a ton of stuff for my cousin's baby shower and just need a break. In a bit I will be working of some gifts, starting my 5 handmade items for the 2011 handmade challenge, and a new hat project. If you love cute baby hats let me know. I'm planning on making one that is a bunny with ears on it. Amidala hates hats so I don't know if I'll get any pictures of her in it. So onto the 101 update( I was busy so we have a lot).

#11: I had gone through my clothes last year after I had Amidala and again when I brought my winter stuff out. I had the stuff just sitting in my basement waiting to me donated. So last night when I made a run to the grocery store after Amidala went to bed I dropped the bags off at a donation bin for the American Red Cross. It was two full (and heavy might I add) trash bags full of clothes and shoes. It felt nice to get this one done and I'm sure I'll have more again soon.

#16: Anakin and I watched RED on Sunday night. We bought this because it was on sale at target for $13 for the blue ray. It looked ok but I didn't really know what it was about so I said sure to watching it. It was a good movie and quite funny. A lot of big name actors so I don't know why I'd never heard of it.

#33; FINALLY! Amidala had about 10 boxes of clothes in our basement. I know my child, I don't know how she amassed so much clothing. So Saturday night I brought them all upstairs and sorted them by size. I am horrified to say there were more than 10 things with the tags still on them that I do not have reciepts for so I will just keep them. This took a couple of hours to just sort and fold them. I also got rid of some things, like the sleep positioner we got and never used since it is considered a "pillow" and could not be in the crib. I also got rid of the bottle warmer which had seen many a better day. If I need another one in the future I will just buy one. So then I decided to finish this on Sunday as it was 11pm and all I need to do was get some bins and put the clothes in them. On Sunday we headed over to Lowe's and got some bins and while Amidala was napping I started to put all the clothes in them and label them with the sizes. As I was about to be done with this I found ANOTHER BOX of clothes in my basement. I think I will be having nightmares about finding random boxes of baby clothes everywhere. So this is done and now I just have to move clothes down as she out grows them.

#35: When I dropped off my clothes last night I also donated about 25 books that I had read and was not likely to read again. These went to a local book charity the donates the books to libraries in need. I would have just go to my local library but the timing was not happening.

#72: Anakin and I went on Date 4 for Valentine's Day while my SIL watched Amidala for us. We went to Aquitaine for lunch and it was delicious, best meal I've ever had. After this we wandered around the shops at legacy place before heading over to La Novita for a couples massage. Which was wonderful and extremely relaxing. This was the best Valentine's Day I've ever had.

That's it for my update for now. Hopefully I'll get some more done here. I am going to try to blog some more on this blog too. So check back often!

-Rachel

Won't you come out to play

#85: I found this title fitting as we took Amidala out to play in the snow for the first time in January. Last year she was too little and too bulky to take out in the snow. So with the snow freshly fallen on the ground free of footprint we all of bundled up on a Saturday morning. 45 minutes later we finally made it outside and stay out for 15 whole minutes. Amidala was not a fan of the snow too much she just kind of stood there and waited for one of us to pick her up. I think part of it was her snow suit was too bulky but she was warm in it. This also let me to take the opportunity to complete something off my 101 list. While we did not make a huge Frosty, we made a mini one for her. It was easier and the snow was not ideal snowman snow, more powdery than wet. We all had fun no the less and we got some great pictures from it.

#89: Since Amidala has started at her new school this week she is still getting used to the new schedule and had been going to bed earlier than usual. I know this will change but for now I have been working on completing her baby book for her when she is sleep. This Tuesday I put the finishing touches and some more pictures in it and I can now say that it is done. I will be putting it away for her when I pick up some storage options for our basement.

#38: Also this past weekend while at my cousin's baby shower I tried a new wine, Sparkling White. I was very good, a bit like champagne but the bubbles were smaller and more delicate and it had a bid of a Riesling taste. Overall I would have it again.

Thanks for stopping by and hopefully I get some updates done soon!
-Rachel

It's our god forsaken right to be loved

We had a very busy weekend. A lot of my crocheting got shown off which made me proud. Firstly I made my cousin and his wife 2 blankets and 2 hats as part of her shower gift. I thought back to my baby shower and thought of what I like best for gifts. I loved the blankets people made for me, so I made them some. I'm happy to say she loved them and I got a lot of complements from my family and other shower guest. It felt nice to know that someone liked something I made and wasn't just being nice to make me fell good. Also get her a big bin full of diapers because you can never have enough. We did a diaper raffle at my shower where everyone who brought a pack was entered into a raffle to win a huge gift basket. I didn't have to buy diapers until Amidala was in size 2!
I also completed one of my 101. Today Anakin and I drove to Attleboro with 2 purposes. ! buy a new printer since ours is now in printer heaven. RIP Kodak7200. You printed 200 pictures. Secondly, we went to Sturdy Memorial Hospital so I could donate 2 of the blankets and a hat I made to the maternity ward. Amidala was born there 15 months ago. It brought back a lot of memories and a lot of emotions going back there. Thinking about how scared and exited I was all at the same time. A mere 12 hours after we arrived we were parents. So I went though the maze of halls to find the volunteer office to drop them off. They were very nice and said my blanket were beautiful. I know some new mom will love them.
On a funny note, I was telling them how Amidala was born there 15 months ago. They then said, how can you have a baby you're only in high school. I thanked them and said no I'm not but thank you. Good to know I still look 16.

-Rachel

101 in 1001 Update

So this past week I have been busy with finishing a second blanket for my cousin's wife for their baby shower tomorrow. Still working on it right now but taking a quick break to post here. I had been working on my 101 a lot and have forgotten to update it here. With that and the holidays and having Amidala running around causing terror, I had forgotten what I had done until I could take a minute to read my list and make notes on it.
So with out further adieu here is the update.
#30: Amidala went to her second play date this October,actually we hosted it here. Two of my sorority sisters came over with their daughters. There were 4 little girls here in total only Amidala and my friend Shelby's here mobile enough to fun around and somehow manage to take every toy out that was available including dumping out all of the blocks. Shelby's youngest and Kelly's little one just kinda hung out. Amidala got to check out the babies too.
#32. Anakin and I had gone through our photos down stairs when an unfortunate event of finding out we had water in the basement forced us to empty those boxes. We decided to put them on the shelving that is in the basement and to get 16x20 prints of Amidala's miles stone ages and hang those up. So we have her 3, 6, 9, 12 month photos up along with one from Halloween.
#38. I also tried two new wines over Christmas one was on Christmas Eve which was a merlot, I found it too dry for me but everyone else seemed to like. On Christmas day I tried a perseco which was good, bubbly white wine and I hardly have disagreements.
#64. I starting teaching Amidala baby sign language at 6 months. I just wanted to teach her simple things like more, milk etc. She learned and used more very quickly and still does. It was nice for her to have tell us she was still hungry when she couldn't say the words. She also recently started doing the sign for milk. She 's such a smarty.
Check back soon for some more pictures and posts.

-Rachel

Two posts in one week...

Wow this is rare, two post in one week. Must be all the snow we have gotten and will be getting over the next few days :p Oh living in New England. We were supposed to get hit pretty bad but only got a couple of inches and some rain. I also have some more updated from my 101.
I gave blood for the second time. Anakin had originally scheduled one for my when the Red Cross called because they said it was at John Hancock. I found out later it was not at my build and I was not walking 4 miles to donate so I waited. There was one at my work last Friday so I went down during my lunch I even got a free pound of dunkies coffee, score since we were out..
We also hosted our annual pancake social in October it was great for all of our friends and family to get together and we got see Bill and Tara's little one for the first time. Amidala got very jealous when I held him, I can still remember when she was that little.
Our family also voted in our local and state election right before Amidala's birthday. We took the 5 minute walk over to the American Legion. WE were the youngest people there by 50 years but it felt good. I'm also glad to see the boy scout learning about civic duty and trying to sell me stale popcorn as I'm leaving.
Anakin also got to go on a midday date over Thanksgiving and we got to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1. It was nice to see a movie and have lunch together.
I have also watched two movies that I would not normally pick. Both were picked by Anakin and I have to say I really did like them. We watched Predators and Kick Ass.

Hopefully more posts this week as Amidala is in bed by 8 now yay!

-Rachel

Hobbies

So we all have hobbies and they can come and go. One of my newer hobbies is crocheting, my MIL originally taught me while were there on vacation in 2007. After I learned I made a couple of blankets, scarf, basically anything square. I only knew how to do single and double crochet never mind read a pattern from a book. So one year for secret santa low and behold I receive a crochet book, and I then got a couple more for christmas. I never made anything from them when I got them. I kept thinking this stuff is way to advanced for me.
My MIL came out to visit when my Nephew was born, I had wanted to make Amidala a baby blanket while I was pregnant but I never could find the time or concentration. So on this visit I asked if she would help me read some pattern so I could make a blanket. I do not have pictures of Amidala's blanket as she sleeps with it every night and is very protective of it (I can hardly even take it for a washing unless I sneak it away.
After this I became much more confident in my patter reading abilities and eventually make a blanket for my nephew, one for a friend's baby shower. I even made one to donate to a hospital along with a hat (my first non square thing, and I found and followed the pattern myself) I was so excited when I finished it and it looked like a hat
On our most recent trip to visit my In laws I learned how to make and Edla blanket. My MIL made a pink and antique white one for Amidala when she was born and it is beautiful. This pattern was given to my MIL by a now former co-worker who's mother made the pattern. This woman had a bunch of them from when her mother passed and would give them to people but never made one. I'm not sure if it was because she didn't crochet or the pattern wasn't written in its entirety. But she gave it to my MIL to try out, so now my MIL has made one for my daughter and nephew. I have made one to give to my cousin and his wife for their sun.
Also I have an update for my 101.
Since Anakin has gotten into photography I have wanted to learn more about it. I decided I would learn to use the camera. I went with him a couple of weekends ago to a wedding shower as a second shooter and I have to say I picked up a lot and my pictures didn't look to bad. So I took some pictures of my crochet tonight and did the editing myself with Anakin looking over my shoulder. Here are some of my shots.

Baby Hat


Detail shot of Edla's Blanket


This is the full size of the blanket.


Full detail shot


Edla's Blanket


Shell pattern blanket in blues and white to be donated to the hospital


Detail blanket shot.


My first baby hat!

Thanks for stopping by everyone and I hoped you liked my pictures! I had a lot of fun taking them.

-Rachel

It's been a long long time

Well the last 3 months have come and gone faster than i know what to do with. Amidala is now 1 and is running and talking up a storm. She started walking about 3 weeks before her birthday. Anakin was playing blocks with her one day and all of the sudden was walked over, took the blocks and went back to the block container. She has also been talking and repeating everything. Her latest is Good Girl and I want it.

Due to last of posting I've been working on my 101 a lot and have gotten a lot more done.
#6: I finally made a baby hat. I will have Anakin takes of pictures, or maybe I will since we are shooting a wedding shower together this weekend and I need to learn to use the camera.

#24: I finally entered all of our recipes after Amidala decided they were a toy and was pushing them off the keyboard shelf and throwing them around the office.

#47: I can now make baby hats, yay for non square thing. I'm also going to tackle booties sometime in the near future.

That's all for now. Come back and look for some pics later this week.

-Rachel

Also Anakin, I and some other contributors have started another blog, it's all about electronics and tech related things so go check it out at:
www.electronicchronicles.com

Also check out: blog.everythingthelighttouches.com for some of Amidala's first birthday pics