Stay @ Home Mama and Crafts!

Friday 11/19 was my last day at work! I'll research what to do job wise when we get back to SC but for now I'm going to enjoy spending time at home with Baker (& Poppy) and packing everything up. Now I can really focus on packing and getting things ready for the big move. It was hard to leave work. I mean I've spent SO much time with them since 2008 as my 3rd anniversary was coming up this coming February. Whenever someone asks me for advice about their career or work, I always tell them to enjoy what you do and the people you are working with. You are at work more than you are at home if you think about it. I really enjoyed what I did as well as the people I worked with so saying goodbye wasn't easy. The girls in my office and I are going to lunch on the 29th so I am looking forward to spending a little more time with them before we leave. We will be headed over to Natalie's house for Thanksgiving next week. She and Mark graciously invited us over to spend it with their family. I really am going to miss her!! She invited us over for Easter back in 2009 right after I found out I was pregnant. When she found out we were sticking around a little bit longer, she insisted we come over so that is our plan for turkey day.

I decided to make another one of my co-workers a cute candy "container". My mom gave one to me as a gift as one of her friend's daughter's made it and I kept it in my office at work. So many people commented on it so I started examining it to see how I could duplicate it. It looks like some basic materials so I plan on making a University of Utah one for Kent so he can add it to his collection of Utah memorabilia for his desk at work. I'll post a picture to let you know how it turns out. Here is a picture of the Gamecocks one I have...

Supplies Needed (Hobby Lobby):

Clay pot and saucer

Medium sized bubble ball vase (ensure the saucer fits the vase opening)

Wooden ball

Ribbon

Craft paints

Candy (I used Bob's Sweet Stripes Mints)

...lastly a little creativity!

1. Paint the clay pot according to the school colors of your choice and of course remember that the pot has to be turned upside down and don't forget to paint the saucer to match.
2. Take super glue and glue the bubble vase edges to the clay pot once the paint has dried.
3. Glue the wooden ball (I bought one that has a flat side so that it sits better) in the middle of the saucer. Every saucer is different so if it doesn't fit exactly in the bubble vase then you can sand it down a little to fit more snug.
4. Once all paint is dry, cut pieces of ribbon and tie bows around the clay pot where it connects to the bubble vase.
5. Fill the vase with candy and you're done! It's a great gift for a very reasonable price! I think roughly I spent <$20 on materials depending on if you catch a sale or have a coupon. You can't beat that!

Baker and I are going to do another craft project this week to give the girls at work when I meet up with them on the 29th. I won't give away any details on that just yet but I'll post a picture!

Baker's Birthday Countdown - 2 days! ahhhhhhh. Time is absolutely flying!! I really don't know where it is going. But our boo is going to be 1, ONE, UNO...yes instead of months, he'll be referred to in YEARS. We certainly are excited for this milestone but it is sad at the same time. He's growing up and isn't quite a "baby" anymore. Yesterday and today he proved to us that he is growing up as he is just as mobile as ever. We actually got a boo boo last night which resulted in a little goose egg on his forehead. Poor guy was crawling on the couch and went up the armrest which is next to the end table that he tried to reach to get the coaster when he ended up putting his head down for some reason RIGHT on top of the coaster which is one of those thirsty sandstone coasters so it isn't exactly the softest coaster to bump. He cried and cried. This is his 2nd boo boo. At least this one didn't involve blood. I handled it better than his 1st boo boo when Gordie was nail clipping and got some of his skin and it wouldn't stop bleeding. Accidents are bound to happen but I'm going to hope that we don't have another one anytime soon! Baker also got up on all fours really high today and started backing up his arms which he was trying to back them up so he could stand on his own and walk. He loves to walk with assistance but then hates when you stop or he won't want to let go of your hands. I know he is really close to attempting to walk on his own. It will only be a matter of time.

Tooth update - Baker now has 7 teeth! We spotted #7 last night when he was sitting in our lap. It is the bottom left lateral incisor. He's right on track as I read online most babies get that tooth between 10-16 months! We can actually see the white tooth so it is already coming through. Maybe this was why he has been so fussy the past few days?

Here are the latest videos -

Baker crawling up the stairs to bed - click here

In his highchair while I cooked dinner - click here

In the jumper after eating 3 teeny pieces of a krispy kreme glazed donut (i know, i know! But the 3 pieces were mostly dough and didn't have glaze on but 1 of the pieces. He loved it!!) - click here