this gate wont fall down

We have some odd construction in our apartment including a hallway that is wider at the top than the bottom. because of this, we had a hard time figuring out a way for the gate to go that it wouldn't be easily pushed over, or just fall over on it's own. we eventually decided to screw in some blocks, and add a hinge and lock to it, so we can easily close it, and not have to worry about it being knocked over.

First quiet book page

I've been wanting to make a quiet book for J. I got a book of patterns from mom, and was able to make my first page tonight. I'm rather pleased with how it turned out.

getting rid of stuff.

I did a 40 bags in 40 days clutter clear out challenge. This is two bins worth of the stuff I decided to get rid of. It felt great to get rid of some stuff we never use. 

Furniture anchors

look mom, i'm standing!

reaching

too small gift

unfortunately, J is a big kid. someone sent us this adorable hat, and it was way too small. I guess we'll just have to keep it around for our next kid.

discovering the pots

playing with magnets

playing "catch"

J has recently found great pleasure in rolling the ball back and forth between us. it's a lot of fun to watch his reaction whenever I send it to him

enjoying finger foods

J has always been handsy with feeding time, and for a while, we could get away with just giving him his own spoon, and be able to feed him whatever prune juice laced baby food we wanted. recently, he's taken being handsy to the next level, and refuses to eat baby food at all, unless we've given him some finger foods to eat on his own. it's rather frustrating, since now he's rather constipated (lets be honest, he already was kind of or else we wouldn't have had to lace all his food with prune juice), but he's been having a lot of fun with meal times.

Chacos and green toes

Banging

J has been into banging on things to find out the sound they make when banged. I decided to get down a variety of containers today for him to bang on, and his favorite was by far the cookie tin. metal that makes sounds, cute Christmas picture of Micky Mouse... what's not to love?

going for the camera

pulling it down over himself

Boondoggle

I've been doing a 40 bags in 40 days clutter clear out challenge. It hasn't necessarily been going well, but I don't feel too bad, as I had only identified 11 areas I wanted to get done. I found this box today as I was cleaning off a bookshelf. I didn't know this box was still around, I haven't seen it since I was in high school. Some of this might be fun to put in the quiet book however, if I can figure out how to attach it.  I have a feeling it won't sew on very well.

Quiet Book Page

I've recently discovered a plethora of felt and have tons of fabric scraps. I want to make a quiet book out of them. this is the (very) rough layout for one of the pages.

cuddling with dad

the no name store

A new business has moved in down the street. but we aren't quite sure what it is. We know that they are actually open for business, because they've had an "out to lunch, back at this time" sign up every once in a while. But, whenever we walk past and look in, no one seems to be around ,and nothing is on display. They have a few tables, and the sign seen in the window with the flag on it, but no other form of identification. I have a feeling this business isn't going to last too long.

traveling, but backwards

J has kind of gotten an army crawl down, but he goes backwards, and I don't think he realizes it. He had started a lot closer to me, but scooted his was back under the table.

scarf

i made myself a warm new scarf! in hindsight, I should have made it a LOT shorter (i think it almost reached to my knees when not wrapped around), and used a different stitch, but it will be great for bundling up in the freezing cold.