Baby Footprint Butterfly

I had to share this adorable little picture my pal Regan made for me via my Goddaughter's footprints. She plopped those cute little painted feet down on this little square canvas and I can't even begin to express how much I heart it.  These ten month old tosies will live in my house forever and ever.

Nashville, Tennessee....with a side of Clarksville.

I pause....for a little bit of personal.....January 19-21st I flew up to Nashville, TN to see my pal Regan and my goddaughter, Micah.  Regan's husband was recently given orders to move (closer to me, yay!).  While he is finishing up his third tour in Afghanistan since I've know him (6 years-Regan and I have been fridnds almost 25) we decided to explore a little bit of Nashville before it becomes a place they lived once upon a time.  I flew in Saturday morning to try to work around Micah's nap, and we drove straight to the downtown area.  It was co-old, but we still managed to walk up and down Broadway.  The famous bars were opened up just enough that we could hear the artist displaying their skills via guitars and microphones.  

We ate at the Hard Rock, in honor of her uncle, a man we both adored (her godfather) who loved the restaurant and we had many a conversation about our travels and stops by Hard Rock before he moved to heaven, waiting for the rest of our stories to join his someday.  Micah is 13+ months now, and when I saw her at 10 months, she wasn't so sure about me.  This time, after a few hours she was willing to play with me, and even reached up to be held.  Mama's still #1, but I consider it a pretty big honor she warmed up so quickly because she has stranger danger.....and she got quickly the kind of danger I can offer is all fun.  Case in point, we make that girl sit through many a photo shoot....but she'll have some pretty spectacular pictures some day so she can explain to her friends she was stinking adorable.  She was a little less cooperative at some points.....note Regan holding on to the shoes she refused to be a part of....

We wanted one in the wedding dress, but we could only get her to stay still for a nanosecond by handing her the bow....

We wanted to grab a few for Father's Day....what you can't see is her absolutely refusing to sit still and probably screaming as she ripped the hat off, but we got a few cute ones in his jacket etc...

She was willing to do the pink Christmas tree on her pink, glitter car.....Do they make this in my size?

All three little wiggle worms wouldn't sit still for this one....Odie's screaming dog face says it all...

We pretty much spent the weekend taking a few pics and  hanging out in our pjs.  Micah and I played, and I learned why everything, including the toilets are child proof in about 2 minutes when I found her toys floating in the toilet, and my personal objects exiting my purse, suit case, and any drawer that would open.  

I also spent the weekend petting Regan's first baby, Sophia.  She was diagnosed with bone cancer and the news was really grim before Christmas, but she is still doing well with a slight limp.  I hugged on her and groomed any loose hair out of her with hours of petting.  I love this dog.  

...and then, we figured out the trick to photographing this little fairy.  She will wear anything, bows etc, but she won't sit still, so I took a page out of a blog I have seen and put a bunch of foam hearts on the deck.  I held her back like a race horse, dropped her on the deck and started snapping while she went to mess up the heart design.  Letting her think she is destructive is the key....

I die.

Please look at this precious child.  Her laugh steals my heart.

Phun with Photoshop.

I'm so grateful for the little moments, getting to hear her 'hi' in person....and her version of E-I-E-I-O.  She can only do the EIEI portion, but she gets super excited when you sing it and sings along.  I die.  Multiple times a day.  Reaching up to be held.  I'm blogging from heaven.  She still has an octave in her scream, which she pulls out for all occasions good and bad that neighborhood dogs respond too.  She is totally fine playing with me now, as long as Mom is nearby, and the dogs are not fans of the pinching, though the Cheerio Trail she leaves makes up for it, but these are the memories I will cherish foreva'.....and I have the pictures to prove it.  Watch out world, she's about to be within weekend driving distance!  

Christening Anniversary Tradition

 A little over a year ago my pal Regan had a precious baby girl.  A month later, I flew up for her Christening as her Godmother.  At the time I brought myself and a little outfit and a book, one of my favorites-Three Trees the story of Christ told in kid friendly language with creativity.  I wanted some way to 'celebrate' her Baptism on 'our' anniversary (Jan 15th) and start a yearly tradition of sharing bits and pieces of our faith through these traditions.  It's my 'duty' and my honor to get this role in her life....along with the 'buyer of fluffy dresses'.  At this point, my plan is to choose a gift each year that somehow teaching some sort of lessons in faith.  This year Micah got baby TOMS. 

When you buy a pair of these shoes, they send a pair of shoes somewhere in the world to who are in need.  I included Acts 20:35 "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive."

I can't wait to share these little gifts, but I'm as excited to have another year to learn FROM Micah as I get to watch her grow and experience the world. 

Micah and Regan's Visit

I don't know if I've mentioned it....today....but I have the cutest goddaughter on planet earth.  True story.  Micah and mama, my friend of 25 years, which makes her my sister by God's grace came to visit Nov 1st-5th.  Micah's daddy is serving in Afghanistan, and I've been fortunate to get to spend time with Regan when he has deployed over the years, and this go 'round, little nugget got to meet Texas and all that is good about living here (starting the brainwashing early).  She celebrated her first day of month 11th on her way out.  Friday the three of us gals hit up Canton.  It had been a hectic week on my end, complete with a lingering headache that left me a little out of it, and an outrageous crowd of shoppers, but it's one of those experience I have wanted Regan to see for years.  In truth, we really gathered a bunch of ideas to try out for Micah, with a side of super cute stuff.  More on that later! 

Micah did well considering all we asked of her with the crowds and the standing in lines.  Homegirl does have a pair of lungs.  She doesn't whimper, cry, or squeak-she shrieks at octaves so high the dogs were coming.  Good or bad, this is how she chooses to express her self.  It works.    I'm kind of a fan.  I'm thinking of implementing it into my own daily routine....I'll let you know how that turns out.

I also bought one of everything at every baby store from here to Oklahoma, including these sparkle-I love Santa pjs complete with a tutu.  We posed her for a bunch of pictures that will grace some Christmas cards this year. 

Despite all the new toys she acquired, the key to Micah's heart is straws, plates, and empty plastic bottles.  Clearly, I need to tutor her on pearls and heels, but she's young....I'm heading up for emergency shopping sessions in January. 

We also chugged out to Autumn at the Arboretum where I grabbed some more photos.  More than all the straws and plates combined she is a mama's girl and the smile she has in store every time she looks at her mama is to die for. 

She also was completely fine with the 817 pictures I took over the week and willing to pose in some pretty spectacularly adorable shots.  I'm not exaggerating about that number either.....look, I had 10 months to catch up on...I haven't held her or photographed her in 10 months. 

The arboretum is filled with Chihuly glass right now.....Micah isn't quite mobile enough to do damage.....

...but it was great to see and it's been on my list to get out there before it disappears along with the pumpkins.   We had some record breaking heat for the weekend, but she hung out like a trouper. 

Day three we snagged a ton more photos.  It didn't matter what bucket we sat her in, bubbles we blew in her face....

...or antique frame we propped her in....she was ready for her photo op.  I immediately canceled any future DNA testing, she is her mother's daughter ;o).

I grabbed a few photos, my baby didn't want to be excluded.  Lilly and Peanut were unsure of the new puppy I added to the pack, but they haven't run away from home yet. 

We fed the ducks at the park down the road....where I used to run,,,,but then I ate four cinnamon buns and lucky charms for 4 days....so I waddle around the park now....

...and I died.  Again.

Meet Melvin, one of the 6,547 gifts from Aunt Christy.  Regan loves penguins, so at this age everyone knows you give babies want mom would want.  Regan will end up with the penguin, Micah gets the straw and everyone is happy.  She really just held him long enough to squeeze him, take a bit out of his cheek, leave some yogurt in his fur and chunk him across the park. 

...and please look at this dress we found in Canton for her Christmas.  The reason Regan can't live closer is because if she did....I'd show up at her house and this is what she would look like every time we headed to Walmart.  Homegirl needs to be able to enjoy a pair of soft pants and onsies every now and then too. 

Despite all the things we squeezed into three days, it was much too fast, but I get to head up to see her and celebrate our 'one year baptismanniversary' in just a little over two months.  Which means I was able to hold the tears to about 15 minutes when she flew off.  Why did I share all this.....other than the obvious fact that pictures this cute are too cute not to share?  I need to explain the next batch of crafts I'll be posting from here until December 2023.  A true crafting muse-goddaughters! 

Micah's First Birthday Cupcake Shirt

 For the last few years I've been making cupcake dresses and jumpers for my friend's kiddo's first birthdays, but it's impossible to judge how big or little they will be.  So, it was time to start thinking 'year one' for my goddaughter, Micah....with only 6 months to spare.  Whew.  She's off the chart (and has been) since she entered this world as far as height, so I decided to make a tshirt and add a tutu later to complete the outfit. 

 I used steam a seam, which I blogged about a week ago with a watermelon onsie to hold down the cupcake 'liner', candle (a strip of ribbon) and flame (all scrap fabrics). 

 For the icing I used some rose ribbon I bought at the scrapbook store, and I just stitched it down with some little x shaped stitches...you could use fabric glue, but.....I was feeling domestic. 

In the past, I've had these monogrammed, but the fluffy icing seemed a little bit overkill.  I found this little iron on patch to put on the cupcake liner.  And now....I'm working on the appropriate hair accessory for my favorite bow head. 

Christening Scrapbook.....from the $ Bin

 I don't think I've mentioned in, at least four hours, I have a pretty fabulous Goddaughter.  I do.  Last January it was o-fficial.  I blogged all about it b/c it was necessary for my sanity.  I took approximately 4.7 billion pictures in the too short time we spent together.  My arms have ached, and I've sought therapy over our separation, and my (imaginary, but oh so real) therapy suggested I make a memory to commemorate the occasions.  Michaels' has little cardboard books with rings in the dollar section almost all year long.  I made a baby gingerbread book a few years ago for Blythe's first Christmas, and I found this butterfly book for a buck this year.  I actually bought two b/c they only come with four pages, and I decided I needed a few more pages...not too many b/c I want them to fit on the ring still, but.....come on....who can sum up a cutie like that in four scrapbook pages?  I've seen a LOT more elaborate scrapbook albums, but this sat around ready to be made so long, I realized I need to accept simple, and just 'get it done' before she graduates from college.....

 I'm sending this for 'our' first Christening date....I don't know if these things are 'normal' to celebrate, but it's going to be the norm for Blythe and I.  And of course, because I'm a good Godmother, I made two....one for me too, duh.....therapist subscribed. 

Introducing....

My Goddaughter, Micah Colleen.  This blog used to be about other stuff, crafts, and other....well, whatever....who cares.  Let's just talk about Micah, the cutest little sugar booger, lady bug, punkin' face, little squishy bundle of cuteness that....OK....point made.  I heart her so stinking much.  Her mama loves the bow, so....expect lots of pink pictures and bows in the future.  On a positive note for most, a super negative note for me, she lives a thousand plus miles away, so I won't be able to take as many pictures and post about this little gal as much as I would like....though her Mama sends me daily pictures.  Anyway, to say that you'll see lots of crafts (and already have) in honor of my favorite bow head would be an understatement, but I'll leave it at this. 

Mid January I flew up to Regan's parents house in Columbia, South Carolina for Micah's Christening. 

 This is my bff, Regan.  We've been friends since 4th grade and we've made a lot of memories along the way and transitioned from friends, to family many moons ago. 

 This is the rest of the family God let me choose for myself.  I claim her Mom and dad (on the right) as my own.  They are such a blessing, I can't put the relationship into words except to say that I lost a lot as a little girl, but God had a plan for the people He placed in my life to take care of me, love me, and help me grow.  Her aunt (right about Regan) is one of Regan's godmothers, and she was married to her uncle who entered heaven a few years ago.  I had so many fun memories with the whole family, and he is greatly missed, but his spirit was present at the celebration, and I can't wait to tell Micah stories. 

 This is one of Regan's childhood friends, Liz.  She is perhaps one of the sweetest people on planet earth.  She left her twin two year olds in NC for the weekend to attend the ceremony.  She has been present at all the celebrations in the past, and I look forward to seeing her again soon. 

We spent the weekend together eating, talking, holding a very happy and laid back Micah (she doesn't get that from her mama or me), and catching up....and eating. 

 Leaving after two days was perhaps one of the hardest things I ever had to do because I had to leave a piece of my heart behind.  I don't want Micha to grow up too fast, but I've got a lot of special plans for the years to come, and some pretty fun stories to share as little nugget grows.