Crafting With My Mind's Eye Stella & Rose

This month I used up one of my favorite collections of all time: My Mind's Eye Stella and Rose.  It is just so easy to work with, and the blue and yellow color combo is a nice nod to Michigan's colors, so I thought it would be perfect to use it to scrap our 2014 trip to Ann Arbor.

I based this layout of the Big House Champions League soccer tournament on Brenda's sketch and the mix of patterns and flowers in Kelly's mood board.

This layout showcases the fun we had going back to spots we love in Ann Arbor and seeing old friends.  I think Ann Arbor is an such a idyllic place so that is the inspiration I took from Creative Embellishments' picture prompt.  We were so lucky to be able to go back and visit again!

This next layout is of the memorial service we had for Pop Pop.  I incorporated banners using two different shapes and gold embellishments for Scrap our Stash's Challenge 36.

This final layout is of our church's fall retreat.  I used the March 1 sketch from Stuck?!

Nathan is walking . . . with a walker!

Huge milestone this week: Nathan has started walking with the assistance of his walker!  We tried seeing if he would use the walker many time in the last couple months, but no dice.  Then, on Thursday, he just got it!  

He absolutely loves walking now and is getting so good at it!

Nathan is Hilarious

Nathan has a lot of cute quirks.  One thing he just started doing himself is to say "uh!" and give a little bounce.  He does it randomly and I find it so endearing.

Like I mentioned earlier, Nathan does a great job actually drinking from a cup.  However, once he has the water in his mouth, he just opens it and lets it pour out.  It is hilarious (probably why he does it -- we can't not laugh), but also really messy.  We have to change his bibs and clothes constantly because of it!

Baby Bump Layout

This month I completed this layout of my baby bump.  I used ink, embossing powder, and glass beads to add texture to the background of this layout for C'est Magnifique's mixed media challenge.

Out sick

All three of us were sick this past week.  That didn't stop Nathan from being super-cute and learning a ton.

One of the new things he learned this week was how to clap.  It's more of a quick clasping and unclasping his hands at this point, but he loves doing it!

He is also drinking out of a cup (of sorts).  When I took this picture, I realized that I never posted about our new shutters!  

We got shutters installed throughout the house last month and we really like them!

Milestones!

This happy baby has been busy lately!  

He has now figured out how to get to a sitting position all by himself

and, even more impressive is his new ability to pull himself to standing!  Of course, he doesn't know how to get down yet, but that will come (and that's what we are for, right?)

Nathan's First Colorado Trip

We took this little cutie up to Pagosa Springs to see his Grandpa Thomas.

He read Nathan some of his favorite books over and over again, 

and Nathan regaled us with his new skill: lifting up the blanket to peekaboo himself.

While Jesse and his dad were skiing at Wolf Creek, Nathan and I hung out at the house.  Nathan didn't nap, so he was a bit grumpy,

and eventually took a little snooze in my arms.

We were excited to take Nathan sledding.  I am including this picture to show you that the snow was up to my knees!

At first the sledding was really slow going.  I mean, there was a lot of fluffy snow!

Once we created a nice run, we were able to get down it better.

And compared to Jesse and Nathan, Nathan and I zipped down the hill!

I think Nathan had a pretty good time!

Scrapping Nathan

This scrapbooking post contains a lot of firsts.  This is my first layout of the year, my first 12x12 layout (I'm finally switching over) and, most importantly, it is my first layout of Nathan!  I have wanted to put this layout together for some time now.  

I was inspired by this mood board (white background with pops of color), and I used ribbon as well for the this or that challenge.  This second layout is of our second ultrasound, and I was inspired by C'est Magnifique's January Pinterest Party Challenge.

My final layout of the month is of the ultrasound where we found out Nathan was a boy!  I was inspired by the January 15 Stuck?! sketch challenge.  For all three layouts I used a line I have been hoarding for just the right pictures: Pink Paislee House of Three's Parisian Anthology.

Videos Galore

We take way more pictures than videos, but I have a bunch of short ones to show you that are just darling.  The last one is the best (and the longest)!

This first video is from our Christmas with my family.  Nathan is playing with the drum set his Aunt Rachel got him.

Nathan continues to show off his musical skills in this second video.  He actually plays the piano surprisingly well, given that it was his first time (and that he is a baby!)

There was a trend in gift giving this year: Nathan got a number of musical instruments.  Nathan is really enjoying banging on the xylophone that his Uncle Matt got him, but Jesse looks (justifiably) concerned that he is going to get whacked in the head!

Nathan got yet another musical instrument (a tambourine) from his Nana, but that isn't what he was most interested in.  As this video shows, he loved the ribbon on the bag it came in waaaay more!

This next video is super-short, but I was able to capture a quick "kiss" that he is doing now.  Love!

These next two videos show Nathan "dancing."  He loves music, and has historically smiled and kicked his feet when music was playing.  Now, he is getting his tush involved.  When he is on his belly, he does the worm, and when he is sitting up, he bounces up and down!

And here is a Nathan laughing video.

This last video is exciting because it shows the new skill Nathan has been working on -- pulling himself up!  He is getting to be such a big boy!

Christmas Continued

When we finally got to Indiana, we were able to continue visiting family.  We started off at Jesse's dad's house, and they were very happy to see us Nathan again!

Nathan got a lot of fun presents, and Jesse got to ride in Matt's vanagon Van Diesel.

  

We spent the rest of our trip at Jesse's mom's house.  We discovered Nathan's love of ribbons, and he enjoyed playing with his actual new toys too.

Nathan also got a lot of love from Uncle Matt, Nana, and Grandpa Whitson.

Merry Christmas everyone!