Projects

Blogging has been slow lately; I've been doing a bunch of projects. I took a break to share a couple of them with you.

I bought this stool for $3.99 at Goodwill. Someone had lovingly hand-painted it, but it wasn't my style:

I wiped it down, filled in the flaws with wood filler, primed it, painted it, mod-podged scrapbook paper on it, and sprayed a clear coat on it (all with stuff I already had).

Now Tucker has a stool to use when he brushes his teeth. Not bad for less than five bucks:

I also used an online tutorial (I can't find the link right now; google "freezer paper stencils" if you want to try it) to stencil some pillow cases I had on hand. They didn't photograph well, but they're cute in person:

Now that my dad's, step-dad's, and Tucker's birthdays are over (whew! January is a crazy month!), I'm working on a dress for my niece, Butterball (plus numerous other projects I won't mention quite yet).

The Big Number Two

Tucker LOVED roller skating:

And he wanted to do it all by himself:

He flirted with the cute lady that fitted him for his skates:

And blew out his candles (we practiced that nearly all day):

If you're looking for a party with no clean-up, little hassle, and great value, go to Skate City. It was a lot of fun.

I can't believe my baby is two.

Another Mommy Phrase

"Barbie doesn't go in the dishwasher, Honey."

At least we've progressed from private parts.

Future Tennis Star

Scout and I found out through a botched game of tennis that Tucker L-O-V-E-S tennis racquets.

While at the thrift store today, we bought him a racquet (although technically it's not for tennis).

Here he is, my little boy in training, playing with his new toy (my apologies for the annoying commentary):

(And honestly, I could care less if Tucker ever really plays tennis, although it's my sport of choice. But I *love* how he's already learned the ready position. My eighth grade players couldn't even get that straight!)

J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!

The Jets won their second playoff game today. It's a happy household.

(My sincerest apologies to The Mrs.)

Just Wait

We've all seen Haiti on the news lately. Damn shame.

There was a story that caught my eye in the local news last night, in the midst of the super-over-the-top coverage that all media seems to indulge in during natural disasters. There was a Colorado Springs couple in the middle of an adoption with two beautiful kids from Haiti. They are trying to get their boys faster now that the earthquake has hit, rather than wait an additional six months.

At any rate, I looked up the website of the orphanage they were adopting from: God's Littlest Angels. I was immediately captivated by the beauty in those children. And my heart wants them all to come home with me.

With a $12,500 adoption price tag per child (not to mention travel), it's the least expensive set of adoption expenses I've seen. Although private adoption is always cheaper (at least in my experience), there aren't many people knocking on my door asking me to take their babies (there are, however, crackheads and Johns knocking on my door. Go figure).

I laid in bed last night thinking about how we could swing an adoption from Haiti. The upcoming deployment always throws a wrench in things. I make about $0.73 per week (ha). We don't have much room right now for extra kiddos. I found myself getting anxious about my heart's desires. And then I heard, or maybe sensed, "Just wait."

I'm not exactly sure where it came from, but I immediately felt at peace. We will have more children. I'm not sure how, but I'm positive that there are more children meant for us. And I'll know it straight down to the marrow of my bones when it's right. Maybe they'll be from Haiti (maybe not). Maybe I'll carry them naturally (maybe not).

Not knowing right now is alright with me.

Hi

My name is Tucker. I love to sit on the potty and read (I think Daddy taught me that). But I never actually use the potty.

That's how I roll.

2010 Handmade Gift #1

Tuck's birthday is coming up towards the end of the month, so I'm in a frenzy to get some gifts made for him. Here's the first one - a memory card game (this was super easy and super fun to make):

I'd also like to get him a Flat Daddy and a Daddy Doll in preparation for the upcoming deployment. Those qualify in a strange way as handmade, I think.