Dripping Jewels!

I've been wanting to have my engagement re-set for a long time now into something more antique or unusual looking. My aunt gave me the diamond for my engagement ring. It used to be part of a set of diamond earrings that belonged to my grandma (my dad's mom). My aunt had the diamonds removed and gave one of them to me and one to my sister. They are beautiful cushion cut diamonds, a shape that is not quite oval and not quite square, but somewhere in between. Initially I liked the setting I chose, but it didn't turn out exactly how I pictured. It has channel set diamonds on either side that are not flush against each other, and I don't like the small spaces between the diamonds. The center diamond also stands up high and I'm always crashing it into things. My friend Megan's aunt works for Southern Classic Jewelry and might be able to help me find something for my diamond when we go to Atlanta over Christmas. I checked out their web site and found this beautiful onyx and pearl ring. I love it! (I want to think about it and maybe see it in person, so don't go and buy it!) It's not what I have in mind for my diamond, but I love it. It's so pretty and interesting. I'd almost rather have something like this than a traditional looking diamond engagement ring. But I still want to find a new home for my diamond.

Baby update. . . Lois is great but still keeping my hands full. I'm still in my PJs at 11 and typing this with one hand while tying to jiggle her to sleep with my other arm. She appears to have given up her need for a morning nap the last few days. Alas, she just won't sleep in the mornings lately. She just wants to be held. Takes after her mom!

iomoi Address Labels

The great things at iomoi are no secret, but every year I check out their new address labels, which I love. The only problem is I have a really hard time deciding which labels I like best! I ordered some as gifts a few years ago and everyone loved them. $42 for 120 labels--a pretty good price for a thoughtful, personalized gift. You can also create custom paperweights, coasters and trays and they have really cute e-stationery as well.

Old Navy for Baby

I'm trying to find a cute Christmas dress for Lois. I had an adorable red, black and yellow plaid mini skirt that I was going to put with a turtleneck and tights, but I can't find the skirt anywhere. I bought it before we even found out we were having a girl--it was that cute. So now I need to find her a little outfit for her first Christmas and for her first pictures with Santa. I love this little sweater dress above from Old Navy. And the dress below, how cute would that be with a red turtleneck? And for under $20 for both of them, the price is right since the little bundle is growing so fast. I like H & M for baby too, so I'm going to check there before deciding on the sweater dress.

1 Month Birthday Hop Hop!

Lois has me hopping from one thing to the next. It's a whole lot harder some days to get things done with an infant. Yesterday Lois was especially fussy (she's been a lot fussier the last week or so). I needed to take her to her one month check-up at 2 and thought I'd have plenty of time to get some things done before then. She had other plans for me. I had a half made bed, a half unloaded dishwasher, half a load of clothes folded was unshowered and hadn't eaten when it was time to leave for her appointment.

I remember one Calgon take-me-away sort of day when I babysat my nephew Cash for my sister when he was a few months old. All I needed to do that day was laundry. It was probably three loads I wanted to wash. My sister dropped him off at about 7AM, and when she came to get him at 6PM, I hadn't even finished one load. And the house looked like a Babies-R-Us bomb went off--tiny socks and clothes, blankies, pacifiers, bottles, dirty diapers were everywhere. I felt like I needed a bottle of wine (yes, I meant to say bottle, not glass) and a bubble bath. Later I remember wondering how it was possible that I couldn't even finish washing one load of clothes. Now I remember clearly. But it's all worth it as you can see from the cuteness in these pictures!

My mom knitted this adorable bunny hat for Lois. I found the pattern at Noe Knit right after I found out we were having a girl. When I saw it in the window I wanted Lois to have one. She's our little bunny after all. My mom is a much better knitter than me. I'm on scarf level, but my mom can knit hats. My mom sent a note with the hat to Lois that said, "your mom asked me to make this for you." Awww, thanks mom--grandma! Now, if I could only finish her birth announcements before she's a teenager, that would be great. Here's a tip for mom's to be . . . finish ALL your birth announcements before your baby is born, especially if they are handmade and involve about 10 steps, most of which is cutting. What was I thinking?!! Uh, that I had more time then, that's what. I am determined to get them in the mail this week.

My New Favorite Thing . . .

Lisa came over this week for coffee and banana bread (and to see the baby of course!) and brought me more vintage books and what is now my new favorite thing: Child Life Magazine. I had never heard of it before, but I'm so happy I have now and that Lisa gave them to me. She gave me three copies from the 30's, and I love, love, love them!

The magazines are filled with stories, games, and educational information. The illustrations are especially engaging. They are so beautiful, and knowing that they were created in the days when all graphic art was done by hand makes them look even more amazing. I've been scouring ebay for more and found quite a few. I placed one bid on a lot of 8 but lost to someone else, but there are many more to bid on. (Isn't ebay wonderful?!) Here are a few pages from Child Life. Click on the images to view them larger.