Gifts...

So I'm reading this book called "Grace Based Parenting" (great book by the way, everyone should read it) and it was talking about how encouraging your children in the gifts that God has given them will make them stronger people. So as I was contimplating this I began to think about all of the times that I already screw up in this area as a parent, encouraging that is, even though my child is only 11 months old. I seem to catch myself comparing a lot lately. I know every parent probably does this at some point, at least I tell myself that to make myself feel better. I hate that I do this!! Adelaide isn't walking or crawling or even sitting herself up from a lying position at this point (except in her crib, which I'm not really sure how she does it cause she's always just sitting there, we've never actually seen her do it.) So I see all these other babies hitting all of these milestones and I find myself comparing Adelaide and wondering if we should be doing something different. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Adelaide and wouldn't change a thing about her, I just get frustrated I guess. I don't want to wish her life away but I'm excited for her to be able to explore more. She's getting bored just sitting. So we try to encourage and praise her when she gets close and we'll continue to do so. I know that she'll crawl and walk when she's ready and God has a plan for her, we just have to wait, even if it's agonizing to her parents. I shouldn't complain because I think most kids would be throwing a hissy fit by now every time they tried and didn't succeed but Adelaide just rolls over and finds something else to do. She is such a laid back child, I think that's why it's taking her so long, she's perfectly content doing what she's always done. We go to Children's in Jan. and I hope they'll be encouraging. Our friends and family are encouraging as well but you can only hear the same things so many times before you start to question them. Anyway, just something I've been struggling with and just need to keep praying about. So until she learns I'll just have to carry this adorable little poodle around myself. Life is hard. 

Christmas DIY...

So, the holidays leave this family a little tight in the financial area, as are most families I believe, so I did a little crafting this year. I got stuff for my mantle last year and this year wanted to decorate my dining room table, it was looking pretty "blah". So I got a little pinterest/BH&G inspiration and used my own growing crafty ideas and made this. I spent a total of about $16 at Hobby Lobby (I heart HL by the way). I did have some of this stuff sitting around in my growing craft basket but this was cheap people. C.H.E.A.P!!

So I started with the trees which I will be leaving up in my house all year round because they work. I already have ideas to use them in Adelaide's owl themed birthday party. All that these took was some green yarn and styrofoam cones. And you wrap. I was going to take step by step pictures but I don't want to undermine your intelligence, this is easy. The flowers are just strips of felt that are twisted and then wrapped around into a circle. This is also very easy and cute with extra fabric too. These are so versatile, you can make headbands and all sorts of things with them. I just used gold push pins to attach them. I wanted to be able to switch out colors when I liked. We then just spray painted pine cones to set around. I had extra burlap from another project so I stich witched it to make a runner. That piece of wood in the middle is something Tyler made for our fall decorations. It's just a piece of wood stained. Anyway, that is my dining room Christmas decorations and I love them. Tyler and I had fun making it. 

I'll also show you the first two presents wrapped this season. I love wrapping presents, it's one of my favorite parts of giving them. I took a little inspiration from the BH&G Christmas mag. again and used some of what I already had. I went with plain, brown packaging paper this year, found it at the Dollar Store. Woot Woot! Just playing around, we'll see what else I can some up with this year!

Merry Christmas!