Just me My Soldier and our 4 little chicks

the verdict is in!

one placenta, so we now know they are identical.

one verrrrry thin membrane, meaning they are in two sacs, but only one placenta.

close monitoring...

and it looks like our future will be filled with

even

more

PINK!!!!
and tulle and glitter and those high-pitched shrieks that only little girls can emit.

and dress up

and tea parties

and tears

and giggles

and precious little outfits

and PINK!

jimmy's voice went up about 3 octaves when I told him...we are so thrilled...and {still} a tiny bit in shock!!!

two identical little bundles of joy will be here before we know it.

feeling very overwhelmed and blessed that He has gifted us with two more beautiful girls.

wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

here we go!!!

xoxo

s

continental

It's time for the July Kit at Studio Calico...Continental!!

This month I got the main kit and the Amerigo add-on.

 

Here are the layouts I made with the kit:

This one is based on a layout from Lisa Dickinson's fabulous book, Design Workshop.
I loved the clustering of elements and photos I saw in the book.

I figured it was finally time to scrap our fourth of July photos from last year. :)

Such happy memories looking at these pictures. This was the day after J came home, and we were all so happy. It still felt like a dream at that point!

This is made using the Amerigo add-on, minus the alpha- which is from the main kit.

I printed the photos approximately wallet size. All of the accents from the Pink Paislee sticker set were the only embellishment needed. Love this, love the Americana feel.

The alphabet (making memories corrugated cardboard) does not have numbers in it, so I simply trimmed a "H" to make the "4".

A pregnancy page, pretty self explanatory. :)

I used the photo labels punch here, in the traditional sense on the bottom right of the page, and also i used the negative piece on the top left of the page.I truly think this might be one of my most favorite SC Exclusive patterned papers ever. It's the "B side" of Geographic. You can find it in the main kit or here.I know my love of doilies is hardly shocking by now, but I love how this paper does doilies in a sophisticated, understated way.

Oh, I also used the bubbles punch below the title. It's sold out at SC, but this is what it looks like.

and last but not least, a little page about how I feel about J. nothing earth shattering design or technique wise, but i'm proud of myself for doing a masculine page.

the hearts that are punched out on the journaling block were done using the stampin' up! heart to heart punch. The borders are punched using the Fiskars apron lace punch.

There is a similar punch in the shop right now called the Open Scallop Border  Punch, and I have my eye on it. I think it may be my next purchase. Love the way that border looks, I use it on nearly every page in case you haven't noticed. HEE!

Before I go, I wanted to share a couple more things.

There's a promotion going on right now...If you purchase any stamp, you will receive the Home Front Alpha free. I love that alpha. Love the font, love the woodgrain.

 

and last but not least, there are some precious new embellishments and albums in the shop.

if i ever get my energy back, i'd love to use the pennant album to make something for the babies.

 

Hope you enjoyed a scrappy post (it's a miracle!!!) today.

Have a beautiful Monday!

xxo

s

BPS Class Winners!

Congrats to:

63

Tiffany Gruschow said...

I would love to win this. My son is almost 1 and I have not done anything with his book and my daughter is almost 4 and I have her book 90% complete. 

51

Lefa said...sounds like a great class!

Please contact me ASAP

stephaniehowell8(AT)gmail(DOT)com

so i can send you the class code.

Back soon with Studio Calico layouts!!

xo

s

8 is Enough!

**BPS giveaway open below!!**

I am so excited to announce this E-Book, it's been a while in the making and it was such an awesome experience.

A while ago I was asked to contribute to the book 8 is Enough, which is all about stretching your supplies.

Here's the premise...create four layouts using only eight supplies. Basic staples such as cardstock, pens, adhesive, didn't count...but anything else did.

The book is by April Foster and several of us on the Studio Calico Design Team, and it was so fun to work on.

The book is now available, and you can purchase it HERE.

Thank you so much to Ella Publishing and Studio Calico for letting me be a part of this, it was challenging...but also incredible to be a part of.

Here's one of my four layouts from the book!

and i also have a coupon to share!

use the code STUDIOCALICO and save two dollars on any purchase. :)

 

okay, that's it...

had an OB appt today.

two strong heartbeats...two wiggly babies, two placentas, two sacs (The OB thinks he found a membrane!!), and one mama with a full, happy heart.

we have the 4d U/S tuesday and we should be able to see the genders then. YAY!
happy thursday!

xxo

s

BPS Class Giveaway

Finding time to scrapbook amidst milestones and diaper changes can be a challenge, but it is possible! In the self-paced class Don't Blink: Scrapbooking Your Baby's First Year, you will receive tips, tricks and inspiration to complete your baby's first year album - while he or she is still a baby. And don't despair, if your baby is walking and talking, Don't Blink will still inspire you to complete his album before he graduates high school.

As a new mommy who works full-time, writes The Mom Creative blog and loves to scrapbook, Jessica Turner's life is a constant juggling act. After not finding any baby scrapbooking resources she loved and with a commitment to completing her son's first year album while he was still a baby, she developed Don't Blink: Scrapbooking Your Baby's First Year.

After taking Don't Blink, you will be inspired to create dozens of layouts for your baby's scrapbook. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the amount of pictures you have taken and the layouts you could make, you will have the tools needed to create a scrapbook that will be cherished for generations by your child. AND, you will be able to get it done during naptimes, at night and whenever else you can squeeze in fifteen to thirty minutes to scrapbook!

Coupon code for my readers:
Readers can enjoy 20% off Don’t Blink (link to: http://www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com/dontblink.php) at BigPictureScrapbooking.com! At checkout use the code: blogblink to redeem your discount. (This makes the class only $8 instead of the normal $10!)

*Disclaimer: This coupon only applies to the Don’t Blink Self-Paced class; coupon does not apply towards other Self-Paced Projects, Workshops or Gift Certificates. Good for one time use, per student. Expires December 20th, 2010 at 10pm PST. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Coupon must be entered in the “Promo Code” box during checkout and press “apply” button; discount will be applied immediately. Not applicable towards previous purchases. Other terms and restrictions may apply.

On TOP of the generous  coupon, Jessica is giving away TWO spots to her class. If you would like to win a spot, leave a comment here by Friday (11 pm EST) and I'll draw a winner. Make that two winners. :)

ode to j.

when i first met you i thought you were majorly hot.

i loved your smile and your eyes, and how laid back you were.

as time went on i loved you for a million more reasons, and i always thought you'd make a wonderful daddy.

but i never could have dreamed that you'd be as amazing as you are.

how could i know...

that you'd wear tutus. and play dress up.

and tell the girls that their dresses were most DEFINITELY 'ashion.

that you would have tea parties.

and kiss boo boos.

and be a bigger sucker for tears than i am.

 

that you would play endless rounds of "sleeping beauty and prince charming".

tell them "oh NO, that makes me SAD!" when they did something naughty...in a voice that was so incongruous with mr. army man...i'd have to run in the other room and laugh.

that you would paint toenails...

get busted saying "HOW ABOUT COOKIES FOR DINNER???" as i walked to the car for a night away. (hint: you had the window open!)

and read frou- frou girl books until you nearly had them memorized (never once complaining or skipping pages):

 

and have the heart of a child as you played with our children,

never wearying or acting "too tired" to play...even after being in the field, or after coming back from a hard deployment,

always up for whatever game the girls demanded next:

 

that you would be their secret keeper,

knight in shining armor,

disciplinarian,

softie,

and best of all...an example to them of what they DESERVE in a man. 

a wonderful role model

 

who makes them laugh harder and longer than i ever have.

we miss you and love you.

happy father's day, jimmy!

one of *those* days. ;)

both girls, since seven a.m.

crying, hand-wringing, breakdowns.

sadie's waffle is BIGGER THAN MINE

why does she have MORE MILK?

harper touch me! harper look at me!!!

you told sadie you like her dress and NOT ME? why is sadie's dress TWIRLIER THAN MINE?

a rain drop dropped on my HEAD!

my eyelash IS HURTING ME SO BAD.

i want DADDDDDDDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

and me?
i've never needed a glass of sauvignon blanc more. HA!

is it time for a fake laundry mission in the basement? one of those mommy time outs?

my fatal mistake? telling harper to not be dramatic.

she ran and told sadie what I said and they BOTH cried.

oh good Lord have mercy.

so thankful that tomorrow will be a fresh start.

xo

CD winners!!

** i do NOT know why typepad is so messed up tonight. so sorry about the format of this post...hopefully you can read it. **

yes i said winner(S)!

due to the great response to this giveaway, i was told to pick two winners!

yay!!

email me and let me know your info, ladies. congrats!!

90 Renee said... Love children's music and books. This is a cd I do not have but would welcome a copy into my home.

Reply June 13, 2010 at 10:08 PM

101 Janna said... Sure, throw my name in the hat. i'd like to check it out. Thanks!

lately

growing:

 

 

 

swimming:

 

reading:

 

hooting and hollering and carrying on:

 

anticipating my mom's arrival next week

cleaning

craving:

staying cool in the midst of a HEAT ADVISORY...ugh!

crafting (a teeeensy bit, here's one Studio Calico Sneak Peek):

 

and just missing:

 

hope you are all having a beautiful, blessed week!

xxo

s

children's CD giveaway!

before i give you the "official blurb" for this CD, i wanted to take a second to talk about it.

we LOVE LOVE this CD in my house. the lullabies at the end of the CD make me cry every time (especially 'beautiful girl'- hey beautiful girl...daddy loves you, he loves you. most beautiful girl in the whole wide world) and the girls are kind of obsessed with the funky, fun, funny songs on the first half.

their current favorite? chicken wiggle, a song about getting a baby to burp after she has her bottle. they laugh sooooooo hard and make me put it on repeat.

it is good music, period. and NOT annoying...which lots of you know is an issue with most kids music. and best thing of all? it has a good message. and i love that.

okay, here we go!

Randall Goodgame  is a critically acclaimed American singer/songwriter, some-time worship pastor and lover of silliness. He has released 6 solo recordings, and has written many songs for other artists, including 17 songs for the award winning band Caedmon's Call. Additionally, Randall has written several songs for "Veggie Tales" with Andrew Peterson.

A few years ago, Randall Goodgame and Andrew Peterson collaborated to write and produce their very first Children's Album, "Slugs and Bugs and Lullabies".  Slugs and Bugs is a zany children's album featuring silly songs and sweet lullabies with an overall message to children that God loves them.

Slugs and Bugs is currently on tour and may be playing in town near you!   Slugs and Bugs Live is approximately 1 hour, with live music, animated video, and background musical tracks that extend through all the songs. 

There are fun interactive moments, and also teaching moments during the program. Some of the material is ridiculously silly, and some of it is deeply meaningful and gospel centered.  Slugs and Bugs Live is a super great time, and Randall leaves the kids (and maybe the parents!) with a deepening awareness of the presence of Jesus in their lives.

Randall is giving away a copy of his "Slugs and Bugs and Lullabies" CD to one lucky winner!

 

If you would like to be entered in this giveaway, leave a comment on this post by Tuesday evening (let's say eleven pm EST) and I will draw a random winner.

Good luck!!

xoxo

s