Play Lately

I haven't been very intentional lately in just sitting down and playing with Ella. But now that the third trimester is here I'm feeling the need to sit down and just be more with her. We kept the light box off pretty much all summer and spent most of our days outside. With more indoor time now the lights have come back on! We've had quite a lot of colored rice and salt play this week. Fun to see what she has mastered since last winter when we fist did the colored rice, like pouring from a spoon the "right" way. There's also more conversation that happens during play. While making circles in the rice using an upside down funnel she exclaimed "Circles, circles, more circles!" Also while playing with the rice, I asked if she liked how it felt and she rubbed her fingers together as though feeling the rice in her palm. If I'm not engaging with her though, stuff just gets thrown everywhere. So it's a fine line between letting her discover independently but also engaging (sometimes the latter is harder to be intentional about).

Left over rice from Ornaments that Ella helped make

Colored epsom salts

"Dirtles!" (circles)

Projects Lately

The past two months have been busy with various sewing projects and reorganization. Our front windows were replaced which meant our living and play rooms were disheveled in order to get that done. Ah. A blank canvas to rearrange things! Not entirely pleased with the set up - it's missing a whole lot of feng shui, but it's a little more open, which is nice.

Living Room

Play room - it's divided into three different sections now, which is nice so far

The reading nook which is set up mostly the same way, just a different location

The toy area - this is SO much nicer than before when all the blocks were end up at the base of the stairs (walking hazard much?!). Here it at least stays mostly contained. We have her blocks and kitchen/tea toys set out right now. Puzzles on top.

And the arts and crafts section! This feels a lot better to me, though it needs better lighting.

The "I don't know how the heck to get this stuff organized section". The bookcase is uber annoying, and I need a space for musical instruments and a dedicated light box area. It'll come together eventually. For now it's just an eyesore.

An easel made from an oak sign holder we found on the side of the road. Nail plexiglass over each side. Tempera paints and watercolors will be awesome on this and easily wash off. The white holder is a wall shelf from Ikea that fit PERFECTLY.

I found white boards and cut them to size to fit over the plexiglass. And just like that we have a different coloring surface.

Sewing! These are split-crotch pants and chaps for ECing baby. Made them from left over fleece material and upcycled sweaters.

2 Carseat Snuggies for Baby. I copied a friend's work, so go buy from her ;)

Quite possibly my craziest endeavor yet: a maternity/babywearing fleece coat! There's a similar coat on etsy, but it costs WAY more than I'm willing to shell out for FLEECE.

Stockings! These are for sale on my Etsy page

Family stockings - a whole slew of these were made

EC potty cozies, also available on my Etsy page