I am not a hamster and life is not a wheel!

I saw this quote on some commercial. Sadly I can't remember for what product but nonetheless, it struck me. It's so easy to wake up and just go through the motions all the way until bedtime. And life shouldn't be like that. I am going to try and remember this quote so that at those moments, when I feel like I am doing the same old boring thing for the millionth time, I will snap myself out of it and try to spice things up. Do something crazy! Even if it's just stopping what I am doing, grabbing the girls and have a ticklefest, or a tea party, or going for a walk. A change in pace. Coloring outside the lines if you will.

I can even apply it to my scrapbooking. Try a new technique. Use a new product. Force myself to do a layout WITHOUT my typical tools, embellishments, and techniques. Maybe I'll like it.

Destined to survive!

Yesterday afternoon I forced myself to go outside in the backyard with my toddler while the baby slept. I say forced because sadly, being outdoors isn't my favorite place to be these days. The heat doesn't help but I am not sure it would be any different if it were a nice 75 degrees out as opposed to the 90+ degrees (supposed to get into the 100's soon too). Anyways, we played a little bit and then I began to sweep the patio. Which led to moving around some plants, which finally led to me emptying out a really nice pot I was given almost a year ago so that it could house a plumeria stalk I had. Maybe that's why I don't want to go outside. When I do, I can't sit still because there is so much that needs to be done.

Here's the thing about the stalk. It too was given to me about a year ago. You know the kind that you buy in Hawaii that are in a plastic bag and you bring them home to plant? Yes, I had never gotten around to sticking it in some dirt. Shame on me! What's worse is that in a mad rush to clean clutter quite a while back (we must have been expecting guests), my husband tossed it into a glass jar underneath our kitchen sink. So for heaven knows how many months, this poor plant has been under the sink. Every once in a while I would peek at it and be amazed that it was not completely brown and dead, but yet I never pulled it out from under the sink.

Well, yesterday when I got this nice pot cleaned out and filled with dirt, I went to the sink and pulled out my plumeria stalk. Much to my surprise, the darn thing had started to sprout new stalks!!! I was so amazed. How on earth, with no water and no light, did this thing manage to do that?! You can see the stalk is pretty withered and sad and yet still life managed to sustain itself.

Now it has what I hope it thinks is a new happy home. I am really hoping it will take root and grow into a beautiful scented plant. It would seem this plant was destined to make it. Have you ever smelled plumeria? To die for. Maybe if it does continue to grow, I will post updated pictures of it here.

The pressure is officially on!

Oh my goodness! Two of my friends now know about my blog. This is awesome and scary at the same time. They are SOOOO talented and really good at blogging. Knowing that they will be checking in from time to time means I need to keep this puppy updated.

If you're curious about who the two talented ladies I refer to are, they are PJ and Jennifer. I love checking their blogs daily. Right now they're being really good about posting all the sneak peeks for the upcoming CHA show. This is where all the new scrapbooking product is introduced to the retailers for purchasing. As always there's lots of cute stuff coming.

Life saver!

Wow! My little 2.5 month old can howl! I believe she's a bit collicky. And wouldn't you know it, pediatricians don't really have any remedies. Which left me to the internet. I read about something called Gripe Water. It didn't sound very appealing despite the fact that it's all natural. I held off on buying it. Then a friend recently mentioned to me that she uses it with her son who is about 2 weeks younger than my daughter. Knowing that made me more comfortable. So on Saturday (after spending Friday night saying to my daughter, "What's wrong with you?!"), I caved and went down to my local CVS. I picked up the Little Tummies brand of Gripe Water and went home. That night she started acting up after being fed, changed, and walked and bounced as much my poor back could take. So we gave her a teaspoon of this stuff and it was a miracle. Within minutes, she was relaxed and then asleep. I was so relieved but then a little concerned about what they put in this stuff. Again I went to the internet and was calmed when I found this site. So far I have only used it twice. It's worked both times. My intention is to only use it when nothing else works. Though I can see how tempting it would be to use any time I want to get something done. But that would be wrong. Anyways, I strongly recommend this stuff to anyone with an overly fussy baby.

Sisters Layout

One of the Design Team assignments for Scrappin Good Times is to create a layout following a sketch from PageMaps (a sketch idea book). I took it pretty literally this month. Here's what I came up with.

I used the Sweetwater "Giggle" line and lots of crystals. The green foam flowers are from Petaloo and I just love them! Ever since I found Prima's blog, I am in LOVE with flowers.

Sisterly Love

Hannah is such a loving big sister to Makaela. It amazes me! I look forward to watching them grow up together. I was playing around with my camera settings today and snapped this photo. It's not as crisp as I would like but I love how the sunlight through the window gave just the right touch.

Already Smiling

I can't believe it! Makaela is smiling and she's only 1 month old. I have suspected this for about a week now but kept thinking that it might still be coincidental or gas bubbles. But today as I was taking her picture, I got her to smile in response to me. How happy am I that I got this cute picture?! I can't wait for her to giggle. I have already been treated to a preview of that lovely sound because she has giggled a couple of times while nursing. It's so stinking cute! I tell her the angels are talking to her when this happens.

It's things like this that keep me sane. This child is not the easiest one and it's even harder when trying to pay an adequate amount of attention to big sister Hannah. Who by the way is still the best ever. She loves this baby so much!!! It's going to be a blast watching them grow up together. I hope they'll be the best of friends.

Here she is!!!

A quick little layout I did of our newest family member Makaela. I used the Making Memories "Animal Crackers" line. All of my paper and embellishments are from "Ella" (the girl side) in this line. The boy's line is called "Jack" and features more blues, oranges, and greens. I love this paper!!!! Can't wait to do more with it.

Could this be it?

It's 5:39 AM on Sunday, May 4, 2008. Last night I went to bed at 12:30 AM (actually this morning huh?) feeling normal for a 39.5 week pregnant woman. Which really means tight, uncomfortable, bloated, etc. But we'll call that normal. Not 45 minutes later, the cramping begins. It's something I have felt periodically for the past week and a half or so, so I didn't think anything of it. Until moving to a new position didn't help and it was coming in waves. Is this labor? 5 hours later and I am pretty sure it must be. I still have not woken my dear husband. We'll see if we can't give him 1 more hour of peaceful rest before he turns into my slave. Seriously! There's so much that needs to be done yet.

1. The baby clothes from my first daughter need to be brought in from the garage. Thank goodness they're washed and well stored!
2. He needs to cut some metal dowels so we can finally put the pack n play together to use as a bassinet. Yes, we lost the 4 metal poles that go with it. Don't even ask me how this happened. It's one of my greater frustrations.
3. Need to do the dishes in the sink so the ants don't invade while we're at the hospital.
4. Need to move Hannah's carseat over and install the base for the infant seat (no small task I assure you).
5. Need to make up the guest bed (just bought new linens for it yesterday - haven't tried them yet. I hope they work)
6. Pack the rest of my overnight bag as well as hubby's. My stuff for the most part is done. But guess what's not in there ... a coming home outfit for baby! Can you believe it?!
7. Clean up all of my scrapbooking supplies off the dining room table from the baby album I was making for my friend who's shower is today.
8. Throw our sheets in the wash and hopefully get them back on the bed so I can come home to something clean.
9. Take a shower and wash my hair.

Oh my goodness I could probably go on and on. So in typing this I have had 2 contractions. They were 5,5 minutes apart but only 40 seconds long. I don't think I have much time. Better go get a jump on things. It's 5:49 AM now. Looks like hubby isn't going to get that hour.

Wish us all luck for a safe and healthy delivery.

So you wanna see my work do ya?

It would make sense that anyone who may ever read this blog would want to see some of my work considering I claim to be a scrapbooker. I admit I am horrible at posting regularly. And I am even worse at scanning or photographing my work. One thing I do have to show you though, is a mini album I recently completed for a good friend's baby shower. It's now known that I give hand made baby albums as shower gifts. Heaven help me if I don't do it for one friend. I would feel terrible. As of right this minute, I have three friends who need to get albums. One is 3 weeks away from her due date. Another is due in August and it's twins. And the third has kindly given me until November before she delivers. HOWEVER, I am due with my second child in TWO weeks! Have I made an album for this darling little girl yet? No. Shoot, my first child doesn't even really have one. Anyways, here's a pic of the most recent album finished. They're a lot of fun to do, despite how time consuming. And it's always a treat to watch the mommy open it up and admire it. Can't get enough of that positive reinforcement right. Enjoy!