Tuesday, March 9, 2010

He's Three!

Three years ago today, a sweet baby came into the world, making me a mommy. He was not an easy baby, but he could have been a lot worse. I couldn't understand what I had done in my life to deserve the honour of being the little angel's mother. I was in awe of him. He became one of my greatest joys.

At 1:16am, March 9th, 2007, Monkey came into the world via emergency c-section. He was 8lbs, 11 and a half oz and 21" long. He had a cute, little nose and huge hands and feet. We knew right then he was going to be tall. He grew quickly; he was soon in the 98-99% percentile for growth. He always looked older than he was due to his rapid growth.

He said his first word at 8 months. "Kitty Cat." Closely followed by "dada" and "good." He tried walking before he started crawling. He did crawl, starting at 8-9 months. He was walking on his own by 11 months. I managed to get a picture of his first un-aided steps. Only I was so excited, I cut off my father's head. I love that picture.

Monkey has always been a very curious little man. He has been interested in the world around him since he noticed there was one around him. He takes everything in. When you think he's just quietly playing, he's really listening. Anything said around him will be repeated now that he's verbal. When he was only 16 months old, he watched me kill a spider with a shoe. For months afterwards, everytime he saw a crumb on the floor, he would grab his shoe and "kill" it. Screaming just like his wussy mother.

This boy loves all things Thomas the Tank Engine, The Wiggles and his beloved stuffed dog, Sticks. He knows all his colours, can count to 20 in English and 10 in French and Spanish (I take no credit for the Spanish. That's Dora's doing), he knows all his body parts and will loudly that boys have "peanuts" and girls don't. He knows his alphabet, can read his name, knows 5 books by heart and is starting to learn how to print his name. He can get dressed by his self and likes to wear his pants backwards. He's knows how to use the potty, but can't be bothered to stop playing to use it. He loves grocery shopping and Walmart. His favourite restaurant is McDonald's and he'll place his own order of chicken nuggets, french fries and chocolate milk all by his self; even if we are at Tim Horton's.

Monkey loves sports. He's learning how to ice skate and how to swim. He'll kick or throw any ball he can get near. He likes watching hockey, but can get hockey-ed out sometimes. He jumps on the trampoline and doesn't think twice about running over his friends. He's just happy to be running. He dances all day long. He even has different names for different dances.

This boy has a temper. He's subborn and quick to meltdown if he's not getting his own way. He is also one of the happiest kids I have ever seen at the same time. He loves to laugh and smile. He can be found rolling happily on his back at any given time. He hates it when people laugh at him when he's mad, but thrives in it when he's happy.

Monkey is a funny, little character. And I am so blessed to have him in my life.
I love you, my little Monkey Man!

Monday, March 8, 2010

The Monday After

Thank you to all the wonderful people who took part in the WeScrap Blog Hop. It was super fun and I hope we got the a good enough response that we can do this again. I, for one, had a lot of fun. Blog hops are always so inspiring to me. I got so into the Spring fever that I'm working on more Spring layouts and projects. I can't share now...All I can say is stay tuned for more Spring fun!


Spring fever also has me craving Maple Syrup festivals. And I'm not just talking about eating pancakes and maple syrup sausages; although those are awesome too! I want to just go to the festivals. This year we're going to head out to the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival. We've lived close to Elmira for years now and have never gone. That's all changing this year. We'll be there.

This is a real scene from Elmira (photo source unknown, but if someone can tell me, I'll credit it to the right person). This is also something one can see on a daily basis around our own sleepy, little town. I love seeing the horse drawn buggies and the children running down the side of the highway. It's always makes me think of L.M. Montgomery's books.

We'll also be stopping by the Belmore Maple Syrup Festival again this year. I think last year was the first year in about 6 or 7 years that we didn't go. My mother used to have a stand in the craft area. She used to do beautiful stained glass pieces. Belmore's not a big festival, but it's still nice to go.

Until next time...

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Bring on Spring!

It's finally here!!!!

If you have just joined us on this little adventure of "Bring on Spring" for WeScrap.com , you may want to start at the beginning here.


As part of the WeScrap Inspiration Team, we have all decided that with all the months of snow and ice that we'd "Bring on Spring" a little early this year. Hop along with the entire WeScrap iTeam to see what each of the iTeam has created!


Here's our blog hop rotation for the day:
Creative Crafts and Stickers
Sarah Nolan
Michelle Galloway
Celia Yang
Laura Gilhuly
Tara Thynne
Jacquelin Green
Jen Benoit (moi!)
Avina Lim
Teresa Hord, Guest iTeam
Allison Cope


Now, I'd like to share my Spring inspired project with you!


Spring Flower...I used the awesome, awesome March kit from WeScrap. I stamped distress dots in Lettuce; it matched the paper perfectly. I added a few scraps I had leftover from my kit (I knew I wanted to use the background paper for this layout and put it aside right away). I also found I loved painted the clear alphas with FolkArt paint in Yellow Citron. I think it's my favourite paint colour I own.

You can purchase this awesome kit, with it's super cool custom buttons, right here.

Not only do we have some fabulous projects to share today, but you also have the chance to win a prize! By leaving a comment on each iTeam's blog, you have the chance to win $100 worth of scrappy goodies! Yep...That's $100 of scrappy goodness for your stash! You have until Wednesday, March 10th to leave your comments for a chance. Good luck!

Now...Find out what Avina has created to inspire you today!

Until next time....

Friday, March 5, 2010

WeScrap March Reveal

I love the March kit, Late Night from WeScrap. The colours were right up my ally! Lots of Orgins from Basic Grey (which I have the whole line of, I just haven't broken into it myself yet) and custom buttons made just for this kit. Awesome!

Here's what I made: Simple, simple card. I think I have 'baby' on the brain.



There's a face only a mother could love. The kit came with two sets of alphas. Mini ones from October Afternoon and clear ones from BoBunny. I painted the back of my clear alphas to match the layout.


I've stared ad stared and stared at this layout. I think it's missing something. But I decided to reveal it anyway. I love the picture. I can see myself scrapping it more than once.


I used Perfect Pearls on the flowers. I love the softness of this one.


I love, love, love these custom buttons! They are stunning! You gotta order this kit just for the buttons!


This was a last minute layout. I did it after I finished my layout for the blog hop tomorrow (I used the kit!) I grabbed my scraps from the kit and just had fun with them. I loved this kit so much, it would have been a shame not to use it all up. And guess what...I still have leftover! That's 6 layouts, one card and I can still make at least two more layouts or a few cards with what I have left. Jammed packed kit, man!

Don't forget tomorrow is our first ever blog hop! Make sure you join in! There will be lots of inspiration and prizes to be won!

If the hop is a success, maybe we'll have more in the future.


Until next time...

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Love Owls!

I was poking my nose around Elsie Flannigan's blog. She featured Talkproof. An adorable esty store with handmade plushies. They are seriously adorable. I wish I could buy everything up! I did buy something...

Aren't they sweet? Little owls named Pepper, Ralphie and Jasper. I wasn't going to buy anything, until I saw them. And they were on sale! I know it's a little early to be buying things for Nugget (the baby), but I couldn't help myself. How sweet will these little guys look in the crib? Ralphie (the middle one) matches the bassinet and the sheets we have (still have them from Monkey, no need to buy new...Unless Nugget is a girl then I'll buy a little pink to add into the mix). And Jasper (the one on the right) matches the crib sheets (once again from Monkey! I love them so I'm not planning on buying more. I think I am going to sew a new cover for our bumper pads though. They're blue, never matched and I only got them because they were on sale. I think I'll get some yellow fabric to help it match better this time). Pepper doesn't match, but I couldn't leave her behind.

So, you see...I had to get these little owls. They were meant for me and Nugget. And I'm sure Monkey will get a kick out of them too.

Until next time...

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Scrappy Layouts!

How long has it been since I've posted scrappy stuff? I almost feel like I haven't created anything since Christmas. But I have my Project 365 on the go. And I have created with the WeScrap Jan kit and March kit. And I have created with the Scrapping Bug's Jan, Feb and March kits.
I've just lacked the mojo and energy to get things posted...Or my own things done.
So, here's a few layouts for you!

A fun way to get the mojo juices flowing? Studio Calico! They are fastly becoming one of my faves. Up there with Sass!
Photos by Emma Blackshaw. My sister's roommate is studying photography. My sister is her fave, little model.
Here's some layouts I created using the Scrapping Bug's March kit. It was full of yummy October Afternoon!

I took this picture of Monkey's toes almost 2 years ago! I love his chubby, little toes.
Monkey and one of his many Thomas & Friends trains. It is boarder line crazy how much this kid loves his trains! We are currently living in a Thomas world. This particular train was meant to be a birthday present; but he caught my mother in the act of buying it. When he was dropped off without that toy, he cry broken hearted tears all night long. My mother delivered it the following day. His heartfelt sobs were replaced with that smile.
When Monkey was 13, 14, 15, 16 months old, he always pulled that bird out of the garden. He never pulled a flower or plant. Just that bird.
I used to love letting DS just wander around outside when he was this age. He was so curious about the world around him. I think he was carrying around a blade of grass with him here. I love how little he looks. It's hard to believe he's going to be 3 years-old in just 7 days!
And now a little something extra...
I'm pleased to announce, Steve and I are expecting our newest, little nugget in September.
This layout was a scraplift from a layout I saw in a magazine. I was having mojo problems and I loved her layout.
Until next time...

Friday, February 26, 2010

Who's a bad blogger?

Oh! I know! I know!
ME!!!



Yep, I've been MIA. I flutter around the net when I:


a) have time
b) am not having trouble with my silly computer
c) am not completely tired or not feeling well



So far, 2010 has been quite the ride. With it starting out so rough, it's got to get better later on. At least, I have total faith that it will. I just have to hang on for the ride.



My mojo also went missing at the beginning of the year. I'm just getting my scrap groove back on. I will have some layouts to share soon. Not only have I been creating a little for for myself, but I have the March kit for The Scrapping Bug and for WeScrap on my desk right now! I'm just putting the finishing touches on my layouts for the Scrapping Bug and I have two layouts completed for WeScrap. I'll reveal here on reveal days (the 1st and the 5th).



Plus, something I'm excited about...WeScrap will be hosting it's first Blog Hop!
Check it out!

Cool, huh! The DT of WeScrap are all getting rather tired of Winter. We're giving it a send off and welcoming Spring with open arms!

This will be the first blog hop I've been a part of. I've been working on my layout. Want a little hint for the March Kit? It worked perfectly for my Spring layout!

Until next time...Hopefully not too far down the road...