A Beautiful Court Date...

I was in court today.

For an INCREDIBLE reason.

No no, I wasn't contesting a traffic ticket (never even been pulled over - holla!)

It was for a much more beautiful reason.

Remember my awesome sister Rebecca? Yaknow, the one who had a precious baby girl only three weeks before her newly adopted 6 month old son was brought home from Ethiopia by her husband Dusty?

( psst! You want to see some grown folk cry the Boo Mama coined "ugly cry"? Force them to witness a newly adopted child be brought home and placed into his exuberant and loving new Mamas' arms. Yep, ugly cry. But a GOOD ugly cry.)

Today, I witnessed my Father in court (haven't seen that since I was probably ten), who represented my Sister and Brother in law, as they finalized/re-adopted their sweet baby boy...my nephew!

It was an awesome day.

Except when Bubbalu bonked the JUDGE on the nose with the balloon airplane toy he was given right before entering the courtroom.

This Mother? Mortified.

The Judge was cool about it. After all, he's worked with my Dad for many years and has a heart for children. He was wiping away tears with the rest of us.

(Besides, I don't think you can hold a 2 year old in contempt of court.)

Welcome to the family Isaiah! We love you and are honored to be your family.

(psst! And your Auntie Amanda ALWAYS has cookies for you. ALWAYS!)

A

Wordless Wednesday...Sorta...

As if any words are needed to describe my joy.

(whoops, that sentence slipped out. This from the girl who got "Talks Too Much In Class" on EVERY SINGLE report card Kindergarten through 12th Grade. I'm sure it would have been on my college reports except they didn't have spaces for professor comments!)

Happy seasonal coffee drinking, and a merry UNwordless Wednesday to you...

A

Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy Shop is LIVE...

(Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out)

I'm kinda nervous...but I finally did it.

Announcing...

(insert cliche' drumroll)

The opening of the Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy shop:













Feel free to stop on by any ole time...

A

In Which A Headboard Is Repurposed, Revamped and Sassified...

I bought this lonely, unwanted twin size headboard from the thrift store a month ago:



I've seen a bunch of headboard revamps around the blogisphere so I snatched that baby up.

It was on CLEARANCE. At a thrift store. What did I pay? $2.00 + tax.

That's right, TWO BUCKEROOS! The thrifty lady who dwells inside of me rejoiced.

I hauled it over to my parents house and cajoled my father into slicing off the legs for me.

I bet you can guess what I did next, right???

Sand, prime and spray paint. It's pretty much my new motto.

Then took a two week break (*ahem* FOUR) where I hemmed and hawed over how to finish up my project in an adorable, yet wallet-friendly (read: FREE) way.

First up, installed un-free (booooo) yet functional hooks:



Then hemmed and hawed some more before I personalized it and threw it on the wall. Well, not threw, but ya know what I mean.

Meet the newest revamped member of our family:



Why yes, I DID painstakingly cut out and decoupage every last itty bitty letter:



Oh, THANK YOU for noticing that it matches Wally:



My my, aren't we observant today!

Previously under used and not very gaze-worthy towel bar replaced with uber cute, functional (and thrifty) hooded towel hanger. Extremely tiny kids bathroom punched up with some sassy, low-profile functionality.

It makes me smile every time I walk past the bathroom. Sometimes I choose to use the kids' loo so I can smile while I, uh, you know.



And yes, I only have TWO children. What can I say, we give LOTS of baths around here which creates many towel needs. That, and I actually finished the laundry and was thrilled to be able to use my newly revamped...uh...thing. Headboardhoodedtowelhangerthingymajig.



However, at least I now have a great place to hang my excessive hooded towel collection. (I actually have more hooded towels in the closet...shhhhhhhh.)

I have noticed that the beautiful apple green clashes HORRIBLY with my contractor dark yellow-beige bathroom walls...thus I will GLADLY welcome paint color suggestions!

A

P.S. There are TONS of DIY/Thrifty Finds/Transformation blog parties this week. So go! Go NOW and check em out!

Mrs. Goodwill Drab to Miss Sassy N. Fab Chair Revamp...

I've been feeling super inspired by all the thrifty crafty DIY and fabulous revamp blogs I've been reading. So I gathered up my spending cash (less than $20.00 - whoopadeedoo....can you buy ANYTHING anymore for less than twenty bucks?), pawned the kids off on my dear hubby, jumped in the car and headed to our local Goodwill store for some thrifting therapy.

I eagerly browsed around looking for something horrible and decrepit with a splash of potential.

There was one fabulous chair that I passed up because it was too expensive.

Y'all - Here I am, IN A GOODWILL STORE, turning my nose at a perfect revamp project because Mrs. Stinginess did not want to shell out $14.99! Ha! Told ya I was thrifty...or dutch, but whatever.

However, I'm glad I passed up the aforementioned overpriced chair because tucked in the back high up on a shelf I spotted this sad, forlorn and forgotten chair:

Goodness gracious, HELLO POTENTIAL!

I was muchly thrilled. And even better? The stingy dutch woman living inside of me (Hi, Mrs. Stinginess, I know you are in there) was pleased as punch to see a price tag of $3.99.

YOU BETCHA!

I picked this sucker up for less than a Starbucks Venti Pumpkin Spice Latte!



Can ya tell I was slightly ecstatic? I wheeled my chair-laden goodwill cart proudly, wondering if the other patrons were kicking themselves for passing up my treasure.

The seat fabric? Detestable. Fuzzy orange with shiny gold stripes:

Blech!

I unloaded that thing into my garage and took Bessie to it:

Yeah, I named my cowtastic screwdriver Bessie.

Yanked that seat off, threw the fabric DIRECTLY into the garbage, then sanded, primed and spray painted that chair to gorgeousness:

I added a bunch of batting layers to the squashed seat pad:

Stapled on some fantastic new fabric (that cost more than the chair), Bessie reattached the seat and voila!

Meet Mrs. Previously Goodwill Drab, now known as Miss Sassy N. FAB:

LOVE the lines of Lil Miss Sassy...properly distressed, of course.

I have a slight obsession with green. I actually gasped OUT LOUD in the fabric store when I saw this bit o green gloriousness.

Before and after shot, from DRAB to FAB! :

Check out more DIY projects over at : A Soft Place To Land, the Shabby Chic Cottage and Thrifty Decor Chick...

A

Ah, Dear Summer, Where Hast Thou Gone

Ah, dear summer, where hast thou gone?

The summer season is ending soon, is it so horrible to be joyfully anticipating crisp fall nights, hot apple cider, pumpkin pie spices and resplendent trees? The school buses went by today, solidifying the fact that yes, fall IS indeed arriving soon.

I am eager to break out the scarves, hats and gloves and spend more time being cozy inside. Bible Study is starting, sewing projects are needing completion and the summer blooms are slowly fading.

However, we still have a few short weeks left to eke out every last remaining glimmer of summer.

Enjoy the rest of your summer along with me, won't you?

A

Naptastic...

I am NOT a napper. I NEVER nap. I can't POSSIBLY sleep during the day. It TOTALLY messes up my night time sleep. Napping is for WEAKLINGS.

Y'all.

I was naptastic on Sunday.

I added up all my napping hours. They added up to a normal night of sleep for me (7 hours. SEVEN HOURS!).

Granted, I was quite sick and feeling rather blah. However, I'm a bit proud of my new found napping ability. Whether this is the current seasons' fad or a lasting fashion is yet to be determined...

A

Mama's Here, Bubbalu, Mama's Here...

Motherhood never ceases to amaze me.

Since having children my sleep patterns have changed and quirks have developed. I sleep through my alarm and can snooze it once (okay, three) times while still asleep. However, when Bubbalu woke up crying at 4:20 this morning I was able to hear him through three walls and over my ceiling fan noise.

I just sat up in bed and said, "he's crying". Lance said, "mmmph". Which loosely translated means, "What ARE you talking about? Do you realize it's 4:20 in the morning and would you please stop talking to me?".

I rushed into his room, picked him up and snuggled him while he sobbed and sobbed. I repeated"Mama's here, Bubba, Mama's here" over and over while rocking him back and forth. NO idea what was going on. He never tells me. Bubbalu was soon ready to lay down and went back to sleep. Me? It took a short while longer...as in 47 minutes.

Which might explain my inability to fully wake up this morning. Coffee here we come.

Motherhood never ceases to amaze me. I love being able to be his safe place. His constant. His provider.

His Mommy.

A

Welcome Home...

She was completely and all-encompassingly focused. You could try talking to her, but you wouldn't get far.

She stood amidst a swarm of strangers not seeing them or caring about them. It was busy and loud as families, spouses and friends were reunited. She couldn't hear them. She stood staring at the exit of the escalator waiting to see a familiar face. She was quiet. She was focused. She was waiting.

She's been waiting over a year for this moment. This moment that will forever be etched in her heart and mind.

She has a three week old precious baby girl. She has been a single parent for over a week as her husband has been gone on this journey. She is tired and emotional but eager.

Her brother whistles and motions that he can spot them coming up the escalator.

The video cameras start rolling...the cameras are turned on and ready to go.

Her heart is ready.

She first spots her husband's brilliantly smiling face. He has never smiled so brightly before...not even on their wedding day. It is a proud smile. A tender smile. A fatherly smile.

Next she spots a little dark head that he is carrying in his front pack. As he nears the top you can see two little dangling arms, two dangling legs.

She runs forward and clings to her husband and her new baby boy. They fumble with the many straps, struggle to lift him out and then finally, finally FINALLY she is at last holding him in her arms...and in her heart. She is sobbing and shaking as she holds him, the enormity of the moment overwhelming her.



She kisses her husband and turns to face her waiting family.

She walks over, shows him to us and says, "this is our son!"



He is introduced to his little sister. Their family has doubled in less than a month.



Welcome home Isaiah Melkiso. Welcome home and welcome into our hearts. You are muchly loved.



Love your Auntie,

A

Nine Years Ago...

Nine years ago I married my sweetheart. Nine years ago he married his sweetheart.



Nine years later and we're still sweethearts...

A

Sweet Bundle Of Pink...

One of our siblings finally managed to produce a sweet bundle of pink who joined us June 25 weighing in at a perfect 6lbs 15 oz. While this is definitely unusual for our families and we aren't quite sure what to do with a baby girl, we'll just have to suffer through it and figure it all out.

Wouldn't YOU want to be an Auntie to this darling baby girl?:



Could her lips BE any more kissable? (*Heart squeeze*)

Welcome to our family Gabriella! Congratulations Dusty and Becca!

I am predicting many hours of tea parties, dressing up, dolls and one maybe two matching outfits for Gabby and Lil Chick.

We love you already Gabby...

A

Proud To Be An American...

We are kinda patriotic over here.

On or about the second week in June I start listening to my Lee Greenwood CD in anticipation of the 4th of July. It reminds me that our freedom was fought for and that I AM proud to be an American.

Bubbalu is proud to be an American too:



Wishing you a happy and safe Independence day!

A

A Glorious Luxury...

It's been a lovely morning.

I woke up late this morning, refreshed and rested. And by late I do mean 8:00 AM. What glorious luxury.

How my life has changed.

Rewind three years and slap self upside the head (which would require a degree in advanced contortionism, but whatever).

Repeat after me: "Girl! Sleep as much as possible! Build up your sleep bank NOW, while you actually have the time, availability and room to do so. Relish your shopping and errand running as you jauntily jump out of the car without undoing 18 million straps, buckles and clips and cinches. Celebrate the lightness of your purse as soon you will be required to carry 37 matchbox cars to stave of toddler tantrums and a half-roll of toilet paper to wipe drippy noses (no, I did NOT have a half roll of toilet paper stuck in my purse that accidentally was pulled out when purchasing a mocha or two at Costco...yesterday...at 1:15 pm). Eat a meal leisurely, without having to refill sippy cups with that gloriously thick and tasty but forbidden (due to excess thigh and waist...uh,padding) whole milk or say for the seventieth time in six minutes, "NO, you may NOT have chocolate chips for dinner". Ponder anew the miracle of not having enough dirty clothes to run a full load. That miracle will end, my dear."

But don't forget the conclusion!, "Girl, you cannot even BEGIN to understand how rich in joy your life will be. Your family will double in two years and you will be a crazy harried Mama. But guess what? Despite the stress and chaos, you will be happy and declare a random morning a GLORIOUS LUXURY".

A

Getting Some Time Off...

We are freshly back from a fabulously child-free weekend getaway. While the husband had to attend a seminar and talk shop with his other dental study club members, the wifey watched movies, drank coffee (sugar-free creamer!), read beach books and slept in.

I had every intention to do two hour gym workouts and an extensive distance run of the beach but couldn't seem to get up the gumption to leave my cozy quiet hotel room. Had it been a sunny weekend I would have planted myself on a beach chair and soaked up some rays like nobodies business, but the ever-present clouds dictated hotel room laziness. That and the lack of a perfectly svelticizing post-partum bathing suit may have contributed to the lazy decision.

Not that it was a problem.

I can do lazy.

My kids spent the weekend at Grandpa and Grandma's house, hanging with Aunties and Uncles and getting loved to bits. I'm pretty sure they didn't even know we were gone. As predicted, Bubbalu did NOT want to come home...proving once again that he thinks his Mama is exceedingly boring.

Seriously.

On a daily basis the kid asks to either:

A. Go to Costco? OK??

or

B. Go to Doctor? OK??

Really, how boring must I be if going to the doctor (where one gets multiple shots every visit) is more exciting than staying home? Embarrassing.

We ate delicious food (think catered beach front salmon feast), drank yummy wine (open bar) and lounged around like royalty.

I told the husband that he should seriously consider taking his wife away on a monthly weekend vacation/escape as she is feeling remarkably refreshed, reengergized and remotivated to be a stay at home Mama to two young children.

Even if aforementioned young children do think she is exceedingly boring...

A

Our Routine...

"Read Big Red Barn? OK!"

"...only the mice were left to play, rustling and squeaking in the hay. While the moon sailed high in the dark night sky."


"Read Gnight Thumper? OK!"

"...Papa and Mama kissed him, and before long, Thumper was fast asleep. Goodnight Thumper."


"Read Goodnight Moon? OK!"

"...Goodnight nobody, goodnight mush. And good night to the old lady whispering, "Hush". Goodnight moon, goodnight stars, goodnight noises everywhere."


"OK bud, into bed and we'll pray and sing our songs."

"Now I lay me down to sleep..."

"Sing world hands? OK!"

"...Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world."


"Goodnight Bubbalu, Mama loves you."

"I wuv u Mommy"

Right there. That feeling of utter joy when your child first starts telling you he loves you. I want to bottle that up and keep it stored high on a shelf to open whenever I feel sad, down or in need of a little encouragement. Just a little taste of that feeling could turn a horrible day right side up.

Lord, thank you for my children. Help me to be a patient, kind, loving mother to them today. Shine through me to be Your light in their lives.

A

I Love Daddy Everyday...

I want to be like Daddy someday, and have a little son.

I'll treat him like my Daddy treats me, I'll be his bestest friend.

Soon I'll be all growed up big and just because I can,

I'll still hug my Daddy everyday and say that I love him.



A

And The Bald Guy Is My New BFF...

For More Things I Love Thursday, click on over to TheDiaperDiaries.

I didn't manage to get around to writing a post Tuesday night because I was busy scrubbing.

Usually, I am easily able to throw off housework in exchange for some good ole bloggy time, but this was a defining moment.

Folks, meet my new cleaning BFF:



And I know Jill has sung the praises of this baldy before, but really?!? I had no clue.

I opened the box, wet the boring looking sponge and started scrubbing.

I didn't stop scrubbing for TWO HOURS.

Remember the post when Bubbalu scrawled black ink all over my wood windowsill?

Those loop-de-loops are GONE.

COMPLETELY.

However, the deep etched in marks are still there. The Magic Eraser definitely lightened them though. Any pen marks that weren't etched in are gone. Buh bye!

We purchased our new construction home last year. As in 2008. There were miscellaneous construction related scuffs, stains and drips scattered throughout the house:

A dark brown splotch on the laundry room floor. A black scratch dead center on the upstairs bathroom linoleum. An 8 inch red scrawl on the tile back splash. A mysterious black scuff on the base of the glass slider door that screamed, "Hi! I'm Mr. Black Scuff Mark...My owner can't figure out how to get rid of me, so I'm here to welcome you being that I'm the very first thing you see when walking into the family room!".

And Tuesday night? I silenced Mr. Black Scuff Mark FOREVER...and I made him take his friends with him!

A

This has NOT been a paid endorsement.

Tuesdays Unwrapped - Itty Bitty Baby Spit Up...

How many more days will I have itty bitty baby spit up somewhere on me? Why does it always reappear after I've left the house? I find stray puddles on my shoulders, back, under my neck or on my pants.

I was feeding Lil Chick today when she choked, coughed, gagged and spit up her milk. I could feel it making its slimy path down my bare side towards the waistband of my jeans. Most of the time this really makes me upset. I do not enjoy the stinky sour milk scent. Nor do I favor cleaning it out of my clothing, upholstery and bedding.

Today I felt differently. I looked at the little baby in my lap and smiled. How many more days will I have a sweet baby girl to feed?

I picked up Bubbalu's baby book tonight and read about his developmental milestones. Lil Chick is neck and neck with her older brother. Will she really be scooting herself forward in just a few months? Do I really have to find those soft baby spoons so soon? Will you really be able to suck on your toes soon?

Savor today. Squeeze every drop of life out of it. Even if those drops make their way to your sholders, back, neck or your pants...

A

Smile Big!

It's hilarious to watch a group of adults try to get anyone under the age of 6 to smile for a picture. Jumping about, making funny faces, snorting, whistling, clapping, whathaveyou. Might be kinda fun to take some sneaky candid shots of the people behind the camera next time.

With my kids, I ALWAYS say, "smile big!" Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

Ok honey, smile big so Mama can take a picture!



Uh, not quite hon. You're scaring the people. Try again.



MUCH better.

OK little Lady, let's take a picture of your cute new dress, shall we? Smile big!



Hmmm. I get the whole "girls are more dramatic" thing, but let's try that again...this time in the bumbo. Smile big!



MUCH better.

A