Happy Half Birthday!

Today is Piper's half birthday.   I can't believe my little bear cub is already six months old.

She is a champ at sitting up.

She is modeling a pair of Momma's baby shoes.

Nice over-the-shoulder, ruffle-booty pose!

Things are heating up.

We had a scorcher of a day yesterday (high 70's).  I was hoping to get a little color on my face but instead my back got a little red.  Time to break out the cocoa butter.  Munch had a blast playing with the hose and her bucket.  Before we got her cleaned up for lunch, she looked like a wet rat.  Benji got a lot of work done in the yard.  I was able to do some reading outside during their afternoon nap.   After deciding on Sandwich Express for dinner, we even walked up to the restaurant to grab our food and brought it back home to eat on the patio.  All in all, an awesome day to be outside.

Our beautiful azalea in the front yard.

Time to wash off the sunscreen and dirt.

My DIY

I've been meaning to post some pictures of my projects.  Expressing my creativity is something that gives me joy.  And whenever I'm in a thrift store, I'm always on the hunt for cheap items I can re-purpose to decorate our home.  I wish I could take credit for most of the projects I've completed, but I guess I'm not that creative. I am inspired by one blog in particular: Under the Sycamore. I've taken Ashley's ideas and DIY projects and made them my own, as you will see below.  In the process, I have become a huge fan of spray paint and even learned how to use a sewing machine.  Next up: I'm repurposing a sling bookcase for the girls' play area and a medicine cabinet thingy for the girls' expanding flower clip collection.

I most recently painted this door with chalkboard paint. I have plans to glue a wooden calendar template above the doorknob. 

I made this bench cushion with some plywood, foam, fabric, and a staple gun.  Super easy! 

Ben actually painted and sanded this old piece of barn wood, and then added some coat hooks.

This is the girls' play area. I love the wall collage.

I got the idea to use hangers to hang pictures here.

I eventually want to purchase some navy blue and white striped fabric from Ikea to make new curtains for our french doors. 

I was inspired to make my own hoop art from Aly's Etsy shop

Our new message board above the desk.

Another great idea from Ashley Ann.

I recovered and spray painted this little desk chair in the living room.

My sister-n-law, Cassie, told me how to make this frame display for hair clips.

This was 100% my own idea, and I loved how it turned out.  It hangs above the crib in the girls' room.

No-sew curtains and a spray-painted curtain rod in our bedroom.

You can find the inspiration to the chicken wire back splash here.

Our upholstered head board took only a couple hours to make and hang.

These pillows were my first attempt at using the sewing machine since 7th grade home ec.

My mom actually did most of the sewing to our bed skirt before Piper was born.  Thanks Mom!

A quick coat of glossy yellow spray paint, and voila, I have a new mirror.

Another pillow.  I am obsessed with ball fringe. 

Wear.

As I was going through old photos, I realized there are some that never got posted.  But that isn't too shocking because I take a lot of pictures.  The girls have the cutest outfits, and I often snap a picture just to document that they wore a particular outfit.  So, this post is dedicated to random pictures of my girls wearing cute clothes.

On McKinley & Leyton: matching OshKosh denim jumpers from Gramma C.

On Piper: Momma's old-fashioned lace baby dress 

On McKinley: hand-me-down butterfly belt from Jaydin

On McKinley: hand-me-down dress from Lizzie & Abby; cowboy boots from Goodwill

On Piper: sock monkey hat from Fred Meyers

On McKinley: Momma's red, baby dress; cat glasses from Goodwill

On Piper: Momma's "I love you Grandma" newborn dress, leggings from Old Navy

On McKinley: navy blue houndstooth dress from Value Village  

On Piper: skinny jeans by Carters

On Piper: Janie and Jack ruffle romper from Uncle Eric & Aunt Debra; grey flower hand-made by Momma

On Piper: peace and flowers outfit from Ahmma & Dumpa

A new toy

We finally introduced Piper to McKinley's old exersaucer.  She loved it! It truly is the perfect toy for her.  She loves to stand and she loves to grab things in front of her. It also gave me a chance to start some projects outside while we basked in the hot weather we've been having the past couple days. 

Cinco

Piper is five months old. Since she doesn't see her pediatrician again until she is six months, we went to the hospital to have her weighed.  We've been calling her 'half pint' and now she truly is one.  She tipped the scales at 15 lbs, 3 oz, which is half the size of her big sis.  I am loving how easy it is to make her laugh or smile.  Those toothless grins can cure any of my insecurities.  And a good 'ol fashioned motor boat noise makes her giggle incessantly.  Her hair is coming in slowly, but she has a lot more than McKinley had at this stage. I'm continually in awe of her tiny hands and toes, especially her hands.  She has the longest and leanest little fingers.....and when they reach to grab my face, I'm smitten.  She has started showing interest in sitting up, but still doesn't have the core strength to master the skill. We're still fighting colds, so I'm on constant snot patrol, and she despises the boogie sucker & her nose drops.  She loves baths, her big sis, frozen teethers, her feet (as seen in most of the pictures below), and reaches for everything she shouldn't have.