I'll Always Come Back

Dear Riley,

I got a part-time job this summer to help us out a little financially. With me working, we can have extra money to have fun on, and thankfully, I lucked into a nice little job where I make more money than I expected. I am very thankful. The bad part: I have to leave you, mainly on the weekends.

When I was growing up, I never knew when I would see my mother next.

This picture of me and Aunt Morgan shows about how old Aunt Morgan and I were when our Mother sort of "played out." Weren't we sweet? I can't imagine how she did it, especially now that I have you. But, I know how it feels to watch your Mother leave. The circumstances are extremely different, but I have to leave you to go to work on the weekends. To say it breaks my heart is an understatement; it kills me.

Saturday morning when I had to leave, I had to shut the door in your face while you held both of your shoes in your hand and said through tears, "Shoes, shoes." Needless to say I cried that morning too.

I have to tell you, I will always, always come back for you.

I love you so much. Never, ever forget it.

Fabric Flower Added

My always faithful helper.

Baby Shower

I love babies. I want a new one. My old baby is growing up. She doesn’t let me kiss her up and down and hold her all day long anymore. Oh, but I still get to change her diapers. Hope to be working on that soon, though.
Anyway, I have a cousin who is having a baby girl soon. I needed a gift and wanted to make something this time. I first saw this tutorial on how to make a onesie dress many months ago.

www.barefootinthekitchen.blogspot.com

With a new sewing machine and improving sewing machine skills, what better time to make a onesie dress?! I checked out several tutorials and borrowed from more than one. Naturally, Wal-Mart was sold out of elastic thread, and with Riley in a level 10 meltdown, I didn’t have time to go to a different store. Instead, I bought a piece of elastic and used that. I think it turned out pretty cute. The fabric came from Wal-Mart, very high-end you know? I also just bought a 5 pack of Gerber onesies.
Here is the bottom part. I don’t have a gathering foot for my sewing machine, and wouldn’t know how to use it if I hade one, so I had to make the ruffles myself. They didn’t turn out all that great, but I think the ruffle is wavy… enough.
Drum roll please……
 
I am very pleased. My first real garment! Haha! I got a little uneven around the right arm pit, so I’m going to make a fabric flower to cover that up a little bit. I hope the dress works out; sadly I didn’t have a model.
I hope the new Mommy and baby like it!

Riley goes to the theater

Today, Henry and I took Riley to the movie theater for the first time. I remember the first movie I watched at the theater: Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. I doubt Riley remembers this experience, so I took a few pictures to document the trip.

Shrek: The Final Chapter was the only kid movie showing that didn’t involve 3-D glasses, which I know would have been a mega-disaster.

After tickets, two drinks, one bag of popcorn and $30 later, we found a seat in the theater.

Riley was really interested in the movie for about an hour, then she got a little distracted. The two main characters had a long kissing scene, and Riley had to act out her own long kissing scene with me. Over and over again. She also wanted to drink all my Sprite. Overall, she was really, really, good. We were so proud.
I can’t wait for a really cute movie to come out so I can take her again. I think I will go on a Tuesday, a.k.a. Stimulus Tuesdays at the movie theater. Drinks = $1, Popcorn = $1, and Candy = $2.50.

Riley Claire – 20 Month Newsletter

Dear Riley,
Tomorrow you turn 20 months old. I had the discussion just yesterday about when to lose the months when telling someone how old you are. I think I will wait until you are 2.

You are very inquisitive, especially lately. You love to know what I am doing, what Daddy is doing, what Aunt Morgan is doing, and so on. You also like to mock us. If I cross my arms, you cross yours. If I yawn, you yawn. You are at the sweetest age, truly the most fun I’ve had so far.
You have a best friend. Well, an only friend really, but your best friend nonetheless.
You and Braxton are joined at the hip!

You and Braxton have a bond that is different from any other you will ever experience. Almost like a brother, you will always have Braxton to depend on.
 
Your speech keeps building, as does your little attitude. “Momma, no!” is your newest phrase. I can’t imagine why you say that to me! Maybe it’s because you don’t always mind and I have to take something away from you and say, “Riley, no-no”…. constantly. You are really firm in your convictions, and if you have your heart set on doing something, you could move mountains with your intensity. Keep that spark, you will need it one day.
You keep growing and changing every day. You are more than I ever expected and I love you with every fiber in my body.

Let’s thank the brilliant photographer: your Daddy.

I love you.

Love, Momma

Oh, it's just something I made

I graduated from college in 2008. The job market was at it's worst, especially for someone with a Marketing degree. Those aren't popular and not everyone has a Marketing degree, right? Well, after I graduated I was sure I would never wait tables again. I have a degree for heavens sakes. No, I would never have to be extra nice to people when what they really needed was for me to tell them exactly where they could go. I would be able to find a great job yesterday...

Things change. I changed, for the better I think. And, I am waiting tables again, not necessarily out of necessity, but more out of I Want To Have Extra Cash So I Am Going To Swallow My Pride And Do Something For My Family.

I picked up a part-time job at a local sea food restaurant near my Grandparents. Things seem to be working out pretty well so far. Well, I showed up for my first day on the job and found out an apron would not supplied to me. I borrowed an apron from a lady that I work with, the fabric was similar to this...

Not your thing? Not mine either! As a personal preference, I don't like graphic material, fabric, shirts, sheets, pillows, etc. And especially horses!

Wearing the horse-i-fied apron wasn't the end of the world, so I made it through a 4 hour shift and went straight home and promptly started to work on an apron that I would stand.

This is what I came up with!

Wouldn't you just KILL to have me wait on you? I know I would. Total hotness...

It was surprisingly easy to make. I learned a few things to do next time, but all in all the easiest "garment" I have ever made.