DIY Bird Mobile

So, in addition to my leaf mobiles above the dresser, I wanted to add something above Levis bed. After all, every nursery just needs something over the bed.... right?

Am I even allowed to call his room a nursery.... what is the word for a toddler room? hmmm

Anyways I made this little mobile to hang above his bed

It was actually pretty easy. I traced some silhouettes that I wanted to use on fabric, cut them out, sewed along the lines and turned them inside out and stuffed them. I will say though, on a few, I didnt turn them rightside out. It was hard to get all the details and I kind of liked the look of the unfinished edge.

Then, I used a hot glue gun to attach the string. I could have sewn it but didnt think about that till after. I added a little flower to hide all the glue.

Then I attached the string to the "wreath". I bought this at Jo Annes for under $4. I then tied for strings to the stop and attached them to a hook that we placed in the ceiling.

Pretty simple

DIY Earthy Whimsical Mobile

So because we decided to do a forest theme I wanted to do some things with leaves and lots of browns, cremes, greens and even a little yellow. Because we cant paint, I wanted to add flare and something unique and I thought that some fun mobiles would be perfect!

I took an idea from a wonderful tutorial from one of my very favorite websites Young House Love from here and then obviously changed it up a bit since pink flowers were just not going to cut it.

Heres what became of my project

Above Levis dresser/changing table

Now, it is a lot harder to create some what of an "orb" with wire. The best way I found was to wrap it in a circle (as big as you want) 4 or 5 times and tie it. I did this twice, then tied the centers together and kind of starting fanning out each wire as I went. Hope that makes sense.

I am so happy with how they turned out! Even my serious, very particular (in other words, picky) husband was impressed and wants me to make more for our room! It is simple yet adds enough to really change the look of the area! And Levi (almost 2) loves it. He talks about the "leafs" and how they are "flying" all the time. So so so cute!

Levi's moving out

Of our room! (not our house, silly)

Well, after much discussion, we decided it was time to move Levi into his own room. He is almost 2 and I thought it would really be better for him and his sleep. Now he typically sleeps 4-5 hours in there and then comes to our bed (which is perfect for us) and now he has everything in his own room and his own space. I love it!

We are still big advocates of cosleeping, obviously, because we've been doing it for close to 2 years but now Levi was showing interest in sleeping in his own bed so we thought it was a good opportunity.

I will be showing progress pictures and all of the little crafts we will be doing! Hope you will be inspired and find some fun ideas for your home also!

A New Year

So its already February (valentines day, to be exact) and we have had a pretty great start off to the year. I feel like Im busy and going non stop but then when people ask what Im up to, Im at a loss for words..... So I suppose Ill try to summarize it (and make up some excuses as to why I havent been blogging).

Well, Steve and I started this year with a lot of goals and really focused on God and our future and what He has planned for us next. We began the Daniels Fast in January and although we completed the 21 day fast, we continued on because we didn't feel quite done yet. Now although we are still doing most of the fast, we went on a nice date and ate some sugar (still vegan) and also had a tiny treat today for Valentines.

Im not really sure when we'll feel like we're ready to be done. I think we might continue using the food list as a guide line but add some things back into our diet (mainly bread) but trying to keep some things to a minimum (sugar, processed foods). But one thing is for sure, we are definitely going to try to continue reading and praying daily like we are now. I am feel SO much better and I am seeing a big difference in Steve. Its so wonderful.

Also, Levi is HUGE and growing so fast and we have some big, exciting things coming up BUT I will share more in the next few posts. I am OCD and like to have separate posts for separate topics, so bare with me! I promise, it'll be worth it.

Wow... Its been a while.

The photography business mixed with a running, talking toddler have kept me pretty busy lately. Photography is going great and I already have interest about two weddings this summer. I have 5 maternity/newborn shoots scheduled in the next few months also. Im loving it.

Levi is huge. He talks so much, its incredible. He has made huge progress with nursing and sleeping in the past few months also. Instead of going to bed with us every night and needed me to be next to him the entire night, I nurse him to sleep and 3 or 4 hours later he wakes up (this is usually when I got to bed anyways) and I nurse him again. Some nights he sleeps on his toddler mattress (which is right next to our bed, which is also on the floor) and some nights he comes to our bed. Either way, it is huge progress. Some nights he even falls asleep totally on his own and I just lay next to him. I am super impressed and very happy we didnt push him too early.

So, instead of writing about how big Levi is getting, I might as well just show you :)

Its Official

I am doing photography!!! I have sessions scheduled and a REAL website! I am so excited and feel incredible blessed to be able to do something I love so much while also being a mom (which is my favorite thing in the world).

Sons & Daughters Photography

So check it out! And contact me if your in the area

October is...

October is International Babywearing Month

and because of the recent fire Babywearing has been under, what a perfect time to speak up about of how wonderful, safe and helpful babywearing can be.

Courtney over at Storing Up Treasures wrote about it (and she is so super cool),

so I thought I would too.

SO here we go.

The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has been up to something and its not good. Smaller babywearing companies are shutting down because of all the negative publicity (sadly it has been good companies and not ones like Bjorn *cough cough*) and this breaks my heart.

I know there have been deaths and my hearts go out to those families. It is tragic and I cant imagine what they are feeling. With that being said, babywearing wasn't the cause. There were recalls on some of the unsafe carriers which is great because it got one more dangerous sling off the shelfs. However, that doesnt mean ALL carriers are unsafe.

There is obviously a safe and unsafe way to wear your baby. Just as there is a safe and unsafe way to carry your baby, or use a stroller.

This is not a matter of "is babywearing safe?' This is a matter of "do people not have common sense?"

So please, do not let the CPSC scare you.

Put that baby of yours in a sling (or wrap or SSC),

hold them close and enjoy the babywearing cuddles.

(Oh, and please use common sense.)

What can you do?

• Go to the BCIA and share your story or get involved by donating or helping with this issue from a political standpoint.
• Tell everyone you know that it is safe
• Wear your baby proudly
• Do research and be prepared when people ask you questions or accuse you of doing some unsafe
• Enjoy wearing your baby close because it IS safe and it IS beneficial to them
• Make a picture like the ones I did and share them

Lets bring awareness to babywearing and show them what its all about!