It tastes so bittersweet... preschool today.

Today was the big day!  Chloe's first day of 3 year old preschool.  Something I've been preparing myself for since she was born... something I completely changed my mind about last night and wanted to keep her home forever.

Chloe has also been through a range of emotions over the last few weeks about going to school, but woke up READY TO GO! 

Working on seat work

Chloe and her teacher

Social circle time

And when it came time for goodbye... my brave little girl... cried and screamed :-(   Worst mom award as I walked out and left her there!

P.S.... Now that the first day of preschool has come and gone, let's get this baby outta here! 

Confession

I absolutely hate when my 3 year old refuses to nap.

It drives me completely nuts to hear her talking to herself or her babies when she's supposed to be sleeping.  It kills me that she makes up having to go to the bathroom 3-4 times.

How do you get your resistent preschoolers to nap?

Crying Wolf

Although I'm over 37 weeks pregnant and more than ready to meet this little bundle... I'm not one of those people who like to use pregnancy as an excuse to not do something or complain about the aches and pains [insert big lie here].

I really really try not to complain about it, but I have to say... 2nd pregnancy sucks!  I was pregnant with Chloe 4 years ago, at the ripe age of 23, and maybe my younger body was capable of handling such reactions but this time around, my poor ol' torso is feeling the pain inside and outside.  I have been experiencing some pretty nasty "Braxton Hicks" contractions for a few weeks now and have been certain, at least 3 times, that this little girl was going to make her appearance.  On Thursday, I was so certain that I drug my hubby home from work early with 6 minute intervals and made him pack up the car and drive me right on down to the hospital... to be patted on the leg and sent straight home until they "became more regular and intense".  (Don't they know that I'm not making these things up?!)

So since Thursday... after my embarrassing 3rd "This is it!" moment, I have decided to keep my mouth shut, to anyone who asks about the pains, aches, contractions and uncomfortableness.  Don't get me wrong... they still hurt and come more frequently than I want, but I hate being the poor miserable pregnant girl who is continually crying wolf.  Next time... it will be for real!

Until then... XO

A Pretty Flower Girl

One of my good friend's sister is getting married in less than a month and she asked me to create a flower girl shirt and tutu to dress her two adorable nieces in.  The tutu I had no problem visualizing (they're all about the same), but I was really struggling with an idea for the flower girl shirt.

Thanks to my recent pregnancy insomnia... I was awoke in the middle of the night with an inspiration from Love Maegan I'd seen a few months back. It would be perfect to go with a giant fluffy tutu without being "too much".

I needed to make 2 shirts (one for a 4 year old and 1 for an 18m old).  Luckily, I could find a V-neck shirt for the older of the girls, but I have never seen a V-neck onsie (have you?!) so I set out to create my own.  This youTube clip helped me gather my thoughts around how to accomplish this (and I loved how short and to the point she made it!)

I started just as Wendy did by ripping out the seam around the neckband of the onsie.

Cut the neckband in half, as well as cut a small amount of fabric from the shirt to create the V look.  ( I was nervous about this part... I don't want this cute 18m looking too, risque).

Being my first time re-sewing a collar to a shirt, it didn't come out as nicely as I'd hope but since I was going to be covering it with beads, I let my perfectionist self go and called it good.

Start adding beads/pearls/adornments across neckband.  I did a variety of sizes and mixed white pearls with slightly pink pearls at first.  (When I was almost finished, I found some really pretty dark purple beads to accent the tutu and had to add them). 

When you're happy with the look of the beads, you're done!  A fancy look, without the danger of strangling on the pearl necklace!  I can't WAIT to see these on the girls!

I hope you enjoy making this!  Until next time... XO!

Emergency Diaper "Kit"

As I mentioned before... I am expecting a little bundle in about 5 weeks!  One of my best friends is expecting a little girl in 6 weeks (eek!) While pursing Pinterest lately, I stumbled upon this adorable idea.  What a fun idea to make as a small gift for my friend... and who am I kidding, myself! 

Here is my tutorial, which may vary from the original idea because I didn't really read it so much as LOVE the picture and explore on my own. 

Begin by cutting the fabric to size.  I used a size 1 diaper, but I wanted bigger ones to fit so I cut the fabric large. 

Hem the tops of the fabric. Be sure to leave plenty of room to thread the ribbon through.  (I should know this, but I'm admitting that I don't... ) I used the 2nd and 3rd line guides on my machine.

3 pumps of the needle after the last picture, I ran out of bobbin thread - annoyingly refilling the bobbin

Pin the ugly sides together when you are done hemming the tops and sew.  I used the 1st line on my machine for this one.. I also decreased the space stitching to make for a tighter hold on the seams. 

Once you turn inside out, this is what you get.  You can stop here and thread the ribbon or...

Sew small diagonals across the bottom seams and cut for a more specialized look. 

My favorite tip for threading ribbon (or elastic) through a hem.  Secure a bobby pin a few inches down and push the bobby pin through the hem... super easy! 

Stuff full of any goodies you'd like in your emergency kit... I have a Ziploc snack bag of 3 wipes, a size 1 diaper, Sani-hands in case of contact and no sink and 1 extra shirt... because worse things have happened. 

Enjoy your beautiful Emergency Diaper Kit for your car, your spouse's car... or as a cuter alternative to carrying a diaper into the gas station's restroom. 

I hope you enjoy making this!  If you would rather just buy, I've added it to my Facebook shop By Nicole

Until next time... XO