good-ness

a couple of weeks ago. i was reading ali's blog. and that she had made some awesome memory keepers she made. i instantly knew i needed to make one for anika, too.

it's the neatest box ever. and it turned out better than i had imagined it would. and it is a great size. and quite deep. and perfect for all ani's special things.

the memory keeper is from paper coterie. and it is super easy to make. i just started with a basic template. deleted everything. added my own photos. and a bit of writing. voila.

and they are offering everyone $40 to spend on their site until august 31st. that covered the cost of the box. and all you have to do is pay for shipping. hurry. go now. and make one for yourself.

i have had denyse schmidt's proverbial quilt pattern laying around for awhile now. with hopes of making a quilt for anika. and i will make her one. someday.

a friend had a baby girl awhile ago so i needed a quick yet fun project to do. a little wall hanging is what i decided on. using the letters from the quilt pattern. making the letters was much easier than i expected.

and there is just something about homemade binding that i love. absolutely love.

aika is the baby's name. which so simlar to anika. now i just need to make a wall hanging for my little pumpkin.

 

i'm trying to get a bunch of (or four) unfinished projects done. pronto like. i'm tired of seeing them stacked up. and there are so many other projects i want to start. this quilt was the first thing that i finished from the pile. a quilt for my niece. i gave the top of it to her for her first birthday. which was over a year ago. embarassing.

having to hand sew the binding on. kills me. and that is usually why things get stacked up and not finished. the perfectionist in me has not been able to master machine sewing binding on. well. i bit the bullet. and tried it again. this time with a zig zag stitch. and ended up loving it. i think i might be onto something here.

i tried my best to sew the squares together randomly. i put them all in a bag and pulled out one at a time. okay. i manipulated the pattern a few times. i love the random look and am hoping the process gets easier. i also tried rounded corners for the first time. and i like how they turned out. and they were much easier than mitered corners. yay. and i love the quilted organic lines. yep yep.

all the fabric was brought over from japan. the writing on the back of the quilt says 'twinkle twinkle little star'. which is one of my niece's favorite songs. i love that i bought the fabric specifically little joelle's quilt before she was born.

two more project are finished. i am hoping to finish up the fourth in the next couple of days. fingers crossed.

// eight months //

ani. ani. ani. time is flying. i wish i could slow it down somehow. you seem to change almost daily. your little personality is shining through. and i am in love with you, anika.

// you are my little houdini // you have awesome posture when sitting // you went in a kiddie pool for the first time and liked it // you don't like getting your face splashed // you can find your soother when you wake up and put it back in your mouth // you enjoy hanging out with aunt marci // you still startle easily // you dont get so messy anymore when eating // you smile when I talk in funny voices // your neck has disappeared //  you can roll over from your tummy to your back // you have a new laugh // you have the cutest little sneezes // you like to grab my nose // you don't like peas so much // you are not swaddled anymore // when you sleep //  you wore a canada onesie on your first canada day // you figured out how to look in the mirror in your new book // you can push yourself backwards // you like avocado // you are getting more expressive // you sometimes scrunch up your nose and squint when you smile // you can push yourself up so well // you are super content // you rub your eyes when you are tired // you laugh at grandma a lot // you don't constantly move your feet and legs anymore // you have started going to bed earlier // you sleep all the way through until morning // you went to the calgary stampede for the first time // you love laughing at your crazy grandma // you sometimes get your leg stuck in the bars of your crib // you love sleeping with your blanket on your face // you grab at my face and hair a lot // you are super patient while I shop // you giggle when I tickle your feet // you always try to grab the remote or the keyboard or the cell phone // you understand the command "kick kick" while having a bath // you are our little kaiju (monster) and make the funniest noises // you often sleep with your legs and arms spread wide like a snow angel // you recently started sucking on two fingers // you are still my little pumpkin // you use a sleep sac at night // you became a messy eater again // you love sleeping on your side // you tooted while having a bath // you are eighteen pounds now // you are quite patient // you often lunge at the spoon while eating // you giggle much easier // you like corn // you are just okay with beets // you wore a skirt for the first time // you smack your lips // you are a light sleeper // you like to slap your legs // you loved your first time in the baby swing // you had a rice cracker for the first time // you are perfect //

the summer is half over. this is crazy. we are enjoying it. and i hope it slows down. real soon.

random is all i've got today:

1. sewing. a little bit here. and there. i finally made a bag for myself. and i am in love with it.

2. i want to be a runner. i always have. so i think i will slowly start learning. this week.

3. i'm going back to teaching in a few weeks. i taught for a couple of years before i lived in japan. i taught there for four years. and i haven't taught for the last two years. but it's time to get back into it. and the private school i taught at before had my old position availalbe. yay. i love being in the classroom. and after having a little one i realized that it is an awesome profession. summers off. yay. and hisashi is going to work part-time and look after anika some more. yay.

4. anika is as cute as ever. and she turns 8 months tomorrow. nutso.

5. i love hershey kisses.

// seven months //

my gosh. seven months has passed already. you are definitely my favorite little person. you are growing and changing daily. i love you so much it sometimes takes my breath away.

you are so precious to me // you got more shots today // you love holding the spoon by yourself // you sometimes make yourself gag with your fingers // you are a bit on the short side but average for weight // you do the cutest little wiggle when we say jump, jump, jump // you don't wear sleepers during the day anymore // you often kick your socks off // you love your goody grandma // you discovered your feet // you are not a snuggler // your legs are always moving // you smile when I smile // you often perse your lips // you like to crane your neck to see what's going on // you are still an awesome napper // you giggle when we pinch your inner thighs // you love the jumparoo // you get excited when you see your friend sophia // you love sucking on books // your belly button is an inny // you have some really light coloured hair mixed in with your dark hair // you love pears // you like to suck on your spoon // you are getting better at letting others hold you // you still are always moving your legs // you can push yourself backwards // your hair is getting thicker again // you went for your first run in the stroller with papa // you look good in white //  you like resting your cheek on my cheek  // you are s great little shopper // you had your first shower instead of s bath // you like to play with my necklaces // you have the cutest little frown // you love chewing on books // you finally get excited when you get close to joelle or other little ones // you are my mellow yellow // you figured out how to pull the cloth off your face when playing peek-a-boo // you giggle when papa plays inai-nai-ba with you // you like to play with your hair // you took your first road trip to kelowna // you finally met your BFF // you are still my baby girl //

here is a bit of randomness for you:

1. today is father's day. h-kun's first father's day. and i totally forgot to do a photo shoot with him and his baby girl. dang it. he is a great father. a total natural. and anika is in love with him. and me too.

2. this documentary. love etc. looks good. really good. (*tracy. thanks for the heads up.)

3. i made a bag for my sister's b-day last month. but i wanted to keep it for myself. i might have used it for a day before i gave it to her. now i'm making one for myself.

4. did you know you can enter to win a trip to paris? right here. do it.

 

// six months //

sweetpea. you are six months old now. that is half a year. and i am trying to figure out how to slow time down. you are wonderful. you keep capturing more and more of my heart. your giggles. the way you touch my face. how you smile when you see me. some days my heart feels like it is going to explode. i am so excited for the next six months.

 

you are my baby doll // you look good in purple // you are my drool queen // you like sucking and chewing on my knuckle // you are still swaddled when you sleep // you are starting to go to bed earlier // you are getting more observant // you like listening to music // you suck on your rubber ducky'a tail while taking a bath // you pinch my arm while I change your diaper // you love the actions to patty cake // you are pleased with yourself after you roll over // you startle easily // you giggle when i pat on your tummy // you have doubled your birth weight // your fingers are chubby // your feet move so fast that it's hard to put your socks on // you seem to be losing your hair // you keep getting cuter // your poo is getting thicker // you smell so good after a bath // you are into sticking your tongue out again // you are still my lovebug // you just puked and it went in your ear // you giggle at the most random things // you give your mama kisses // you had your first picnic // you are usually a happy baby // you like to grab at my iphone // you made four new japanese baby friends today // you like to rest your cheek against my cheek // you like playing with my fingers // you are my little stink bomb // you ate rice cereal for the first time // you have started to kick while in the tub // your socks are getting snug // your skin is not so dry anymore // you ate prunes for the first time // you like trying to feed yourself // you smile with your eyes // you love looking in the mirror // you dive for your spoon when i'm feeding you // you have the craziest throat noises // you finally pooped // you're not a fan of green beans // you are starting to sit up by yourself // you try to give me slobbery kisses // you taught yourself to jump while in your exersaucer // you got your first mosquioto bite // you like eating carrots // you are my sweetpea //

a japan quilt for anika's wall. made out of trimmings from umbrella prints. and part of their competition.
i chose to make this because it's a great tribute to my daughter, who is half japanese, and my husband, who is japanese. it's also a tribute to japan.and what is going on over there. and how they are working together to overcome their hardship.

i love the quote from the japanese poet, ryunosuke satoro - "individually, we are one drop. together, we are an ocean." (thanks, ali, for introducing that quote to me!)

the embroidery really pused me out of my element. it's my own handwriting. and the letters all different sizes. it's quirky. and i wish it wasn't. now i just need to get the quilt hung up.

ani. ani. ani.

you are changing so fast. seriously. too fast. i can't keep up. but i am loving how you are developing. how you are growing. you keep getting cuter. and more interactive. and my love for you keeps growing stronger. amazing.

xo.

your mama

// you are my little stink bomb // you kick your blankets off while you're sleeping // you don't mind your mama trimming your fingernails // you have short legs and a long torso // you are reaching for more things // you have a couple of constant dry skin patches on  your legs // you smile when I get you from your crib // you have chubby feet // you just started to cry when grandma holds you // you have started to scratch your nose // you pinch the fat on my arm // you keep getting cuter // you love having alone time on your playmat // your hair is getting thicker // you are getting stronger and more stable // your eye colour has changed // you grab at the pictures in your books // you giggle when i act silly // you enjoy our after dinner family walks // you can go to sleep by yourself now // you sometimes smell like anika puke // you usually turn and try to face forward when i'm carrying you // you like reaching for the pouring water during your bath // you don't cry anymore when you wake up but instead jabber away // you are getting smarter // you recognize your bedtime bottle and get excited // you like it when we sing the wheels on the bus // you tolerate tummy time // you got an eyelash in your eye // you like spending time with grandma again // you are getting more flexible // you have become an awesome and quick breast feeder // you pulled your mama's hair for the first time // you love watching your papa // you are quite calm and content when you are out and about // you like to help hold your own bottle // you are drooling more // you like to put everything in your mouth // you are quite curious // you know who you are // you like to look glance at our faces while playing with us // you can rollover from your tummy to your back by yourself again // you rarely spit up anymore // you are wearing size two diapers // your arms escape your swaddle during the night // you still get one bottle a day // you like to hold your bottle // you have chubby feet // you are a rolling machine // you like looking in the mirror // you love playing with my face // you went to your first easter dinner // you keep getting more rolls // you finally like playing in your exersaucer // you cry differently when you're frustrated //you went on your first road trip // you try to eat people's noses // you got your second set of shots // you are getting more cuddly // you are starting to get distracted while eating // you have the cutest fake cough //