Blissful E » months 13-17

Posts Tagged ‘months 13-17’

06 Aug, 2009

stack of napkins

Posted by: blissfule In: Perth

Nesting continues!

Over the past several weeks, I have been slowly making napkins for our family to use at the dinner table. This activity was inspired by Nicki's tutorial on napkin sewing and is a follow-on to our continued effort to wean ourselves off our expensive and wasteful paper towel habit.

The most fun part, for me, was buying the material. Since making the napkins is part of an effort to reduce waste, I decided to search for fabric at Salvos, a thrift store run by the Salvation Army. I found a shirt with an embroidered design on the front that would cut down to child-sized napkins. And I spotted a bed ruffle (marked single size, but when I got it home the tag on the sheet said "double") in a deep purple that I really liked. I spent $15 on these two items.

My first step when I got the fabric home was to wash the shirt and sheet. Then I pulled apart the seams on the sheet and cut out the embroidered sections on the shirt.

Next, I started to think about how to hem the napkins. Nicki's tutorial involved ironing, an activity that I happen to loathe - unlike my friend Megan who is blessed with the ability to enjoy ironing!

In order to avoid extra ironing and maximise the finished napkin size, I bought an $11 narrow rolled hem foot at Spotlight.

And then I took a deep breath. Several deep breaths. Because now it was time to use my sewing machine.

To say my sewing machine and I don't get along is an understatement (and I'm not the only one to have trouble with the inappropriately-named "Joy's Sewing Machines"). For whatever reason, my machine insists on being re-threaded every 6-8 stitches. I call my sewing machine the patience machine.

The patience machine and I started off with some practice napkins in red material left over from another project. The edges on those red napkins are pretty crooked, but they are a hit with the tea-drinking crowd around here.

Then, after one of the red napkins made its way through the laundry, I realised I needed to finish and reinforce the corners by hand.

Using my learnings from the play napkins, I cut out four white squares: two 19-inch squares for adults made from the backs of two dress shirts that had stains on the cuffs and collars, and two 12-inch squares made from the embroidered sections of the shirt I bought at Salvos. After machine-sewing relatively straight hems, I hand-finished the corners.

Next I moved to the purple napkins made from the bed skirt. The ruffled edges were the perfect width for 12-inch squares for children's napkins, and the middle section cut easily into six 24-inch squares for the adults.

Ben simplified the cutting-out process by making two cardboard templates for me. Rather than measuring and marking each piece, I folded and pinned the purple material together and simply cut around each template. So much easier to cut out several squares at once.

At this point, I had run out of patience with the patience machine, and with the hand stitching that was occupying every spare moment (not something I can do while breastfeeding). I decided to try a much easier method - finishing the edges of the purple napkins with pinking shears. Quick, simple, and perfect for everyday use.

Now I just need to find a place to put them...

6 Comments

Tags: home management, months 13-17, toddler

05 Aug, 2009

Lego® / Duplo® play mat

Posted by: blissfule In: Perth

We love Duplo®! But I'm not so fond of stepping on them or finding them scattered under the furniture.

tiny happy posted a great solution: a homemade play mat.

I found some fun fabric at IKEA, got the edges overlocked ("serged" for the Americans) at A-1 Alterations, and added grommets to thread a drawstring.

The finished play mat is ~1.5m x 1.5m, which allows room for two toddlers to get in on the Duplo® fun.

Cleanup is a snap - just throw the four corners into the middle and grab the drawstrings to create a stripey bag.

This idea works so well that I am making another play mat to double as a tablecloth for their tea set.

8 Comments

Tags: home management, months 13-17, toddler

02 Aug, 2009

fun in the sun

Posted by: blissfule In: Perth

One of the many reasons Perth is a great place to raise kids: so many fantastic playgrounds!

2 Comments

Tags: months 13-17, toddler

28 Jul, 2009

Michael’s first sentence

Posted by: blissfule In: Perth

Ben and I are going through boxes in an effort to declutter the garage. We realised that we had two copies of the same yearbook, so we brought one out for Nikki and Michael to peruse. Michael especially has been enjoying lifting the heavy book and flipping through the pages.

I pointed out Ben's senior photo to him a few days ago.

Today I asked him "Where is Baba?" and after initally pointing to Baba standing there in the flesh, Michael flipped right to the correct page and pointed to his Baba's photo.

Then, with the video running, as if memory and recognition were too small a feat, Michael popped out his first sentence.

Ben told me not to add captions to the video - let us know if you can figure out what Michael said!

5 Comments

Tags: milestones, months 13-17, video

24 Jul, 2009

7 quick takes: winter cold edition

Posted by: blissfule In: Perth

--- 1 ---

It's been runny noses and nearly constant numnums here this week. This is the second time my children have been ill (I'm defining ill as including fever and cough in addition to nasal congestion, not just an isolated day or two of runny noses). The first illness was a 24-hour stomach bug. This one is turning into a week-long snot saga.

--- 2 ---

Here's how we're handling the superlative snot levels. If Baba has time when he gets the kids dressed in the morning, he suctions their noses and applies unmedicated saline nose drops. I repeat this process 2-5 times throughout the day, and Baba does it again after the kids have their bath. Since the drops we use are not medicated, we can use them as often as they are needed.

Through trial and error, we have developed a step-by-step snot-clearing procedure:

1 :: Gather nasal aspirator, muslin, and nose drops within easy reach.
2 :: Locate congested child and lay gently across lap.
3 :: With child on your lap, gently restrain your child's hands to keep them away from his face.
4 :: Squeeze ball of nasal aspirator to extract all air, making sure to keep the aspirator away from the child's face.
5 :: Place empty nasal aspirator up into the child's nose, and release your pressure on the bell of the aspirator. You should hear a goopy sucking sound.
6 :: If secretions are thick, you may need to gently move the aspirator from side-to-side within the nostril in order to begin the suction process.
7 :: Once the aspirator ball is completely re-inflated, remove it from the nostril.
8 :: Empty contents of aspirator onto waiting muslin.
9 :: You may need to wipe the child's nose with the muslin before continuing.
10 :: Repeat steps 4-9 until you have removed as much mucus as possible.
11 :: Carefully drop 2-4 drops of non-medicated saline nasal solution into each of the child's nostrils. To avoid getting drops into their eyes and ears as they wiggle, you may wish to place a folded muslin gently over the top half of their face. Ask the child's permission before covering their eyes!

--- 3 ---

Nikki is down to 2-3 numnums per day (after breakfast, after lunch, and after nap if she takes one). Michael continues to nurse on demand. With a tickly throat and general level of miserableness, there has been a huge amount of demand! Fortunately, I am able to read a lot and even type one-handed while I nurse.

--- 4 ---

We gave Michael medicine for the first time this week. He coughed periodically throughout the night on Tuesday, and several times woke himself up. Wednesday night we gave him 10ml of over-the-counter Tixylix cough syrup. He still had several rounds of coughing, but never once woke until the morning. Same again Thursday night. Nikki shares Michael's room, and his coughing has not disturbed her sleep.

--- 5 ---

Both Nikki and Michael coughed a bit during the day on Thursday, so I gave each of them a half dose (5ml) of Tixylix at noon. Not only did the medicine cause their coughing to abate, they both were much more like their normal selves the rest of the day. I was especially grateful for the significant reduction in whining!

--- 6 ---

I think we're approaching full recovery. Neither child has had a fever since Tuesday. The snot we've been pulling out of their noses has changed from a dark angry yellow to a much healthier pale yellow, and Nikki's is mostly clear. They are both staying well hydrated, with water and numnums, and getting extra rest. All but one of Michael's daytime sleeps have been on top of me, and he's been having numnums during the majority of those. Nikki has been taking two naps per day. She even fell asleep standing up leaning over the sofa yesterday morning - and she slept like that for over 40 minutes!

--- 7 ---

I referred earlier to how kind Nikki and Michael have been to each other in the midst of their suffering. Seeing and hearing their interactions with Baby, a doll who has been sick, too, apparently, has reconfirmed in my mind that the greatest benefit coming out of this very difficult week has been an increase in empathy.

7 Comments

Tags: breastfeeding, months 13-17, toddler

22 Jul, 2009

playing quietly

Posted by: blissfule In: Perth

Baba was ill last week, and this week Nikki and Michael have succumbed to the same cold.

Michael spent most of Monday draped over me, either sleeping, or having numnums, or enjoying numnums in his sleep. Nikki mostly sat nearby, requesting songs from Mama or watching the rain through the window.

Today I got out a blanket for Nikki and she curled up in it and had a long nap. Towards the end of the day Nikki and Michael each brought a book to me and we read a while.

I have been impressed to see how sensitive and kind these two tiny people are to each other. Nikki gave Michael hugs and told him "it's OK, Michael" when after playing a few minutes his energy ebbed and he started crying, coughing, and saying "help!" in this sad little voice. Later, Michael was extra quiet when he crossed the room for some water while Nikki was taking her nap.

There are times when caring for two small children takes supreme effort. Yet even as I nurse them and pray for their croaky voices and wipe drippy noses, I love to see the sweet bond Nikki and Michael share - demonstrated as love for each other, even in the midst of their misery.

2 Comments

Tags: months 13-17, toddler

13 Jul, 2009

“my shoe is off, my foot is cold…”

Posted by: blissfule In: Perth

Michael has a tendency to pull socks off his feet. To keep them warm, he's been wearing his Ugg boots around the house.

This morning my attempts at foot warmth were foiled when Michael removed one of his boots and a sock.

Nikki noticed her brother's bare foot and immediately quoted from Dr Seuss' One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.

Click on the image below to hear Nikki quote Seuss:

picture source :: amazon.com

Nikki's appropriate quotes always make me (and her!) laugh. At the same time, I am humbled that God has given me charge and influence over such readily absorbent minds.

3 Comments

Tags: months 13-17, toddler

07 Jul, 2009

tug, tug

Posted by: blissfule In: Perth

That's what I think sometimes, when I see my little man marching sturdily over to me.

Tug, tug.

Every step that moves him quickly toward Mama, his face glowing with confidence and expectation of a warm reception.

Tug, tug, tug. Just tugging on my heartstrings.

I love this little boy so much.

He's my baby.

Just today I asked him to follow me downstairs for a diaper change. When I got to the bottom of the stairs, I wondered what could have delayed my super-stomach-stair-slider.

"Michael," I called. And this red-cheeked little face peeked around the corner where the stairs curve in the middle.

It took a moment to register - he was standing up.

My little boy was practicing walking down the stairs.

I continued to watch as he smilingly held onto the wall and stretched a foot downwards.

Experimenting, learning. Forging a path.

He's my baby, and he's growing so quickly.

Tug, tug.

4 Comments

Tags: months 13-17

04 Jul, 2009

celebrating the 4th in Perth

Posted by: blissfule In: Perth

We had wonderful weather today to celebrate the 4th of July! Which was wonderful because the 4th really does need to be celebrated out of doors.

Our day started with a trip to the zoo!

We met Carrie, who has offered to help with Nikki and Michael around the time their younger sibling is born. Carrie taught at Forte School of Music and remembers when Michael was just sitting up. We had a fun time touring the zoo with Carrie and her boyfriend's family.

After the zoo, we Americans decided to drive down to Fremantle, where a US aircraft carrier and her escort were rumored to be docked. We had seen some of the 5000 sailors in Perth on a weekend pass, so we thought the carrier had to be nearby. None of us had seen an aircraft carrier in person, so it was pretty exciting!

Happy Independence Day!

3 Comments

Tags: babywearing, friends, months 13-17

29 Jun, 2009

phone conversations

Posted by: blissfule In: Perth

It's so cute to see little ones role-playing adult activities.

Nikki as been talking on the "clock phone" since she was 19 months old, and Michael has recently initiated his own conversations using the parent unit from our baby monitor.

I caught this short video today with Nikki and Michael each carrying on their own "phone" conversations. I have added captions for clarification (you can turn them on via the button on the lower right-hand of the YouTube screen).

6 Comments

Tags: months 13-17, toddler, video

Older Entries

Posts Tagged ‘months 13-17’

stack of napkins

Lego® / Duplo® play mat

fun in the sun

Michael’s first sentence

7 quick takes: winter cold edition

playing quietly

“my shoe is off, my foot is cold…”

tug, tug

celebrating the 4th in Perth

phone conversations

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