for baby {DIY striped quilt}

Did you know that our family is expecting a new niece?  Drew's brother and his wife are expecting their little girl in February.  She will be my first and I'm so excited for Hadley to have a close-in-age girl cousin!

Today is the baby shower and since it's a 9 hour drive from here I couldn't be there.  :-(  I was a bridesmaid for Ali and feel just terrible that I can't be at the party to celebrate her little lady to be.  Hadley was {kind of} there when Ali married Matt and wishes she could be at the shower too.

Since I wasn't able to celebrate with Ali in person I wanted to send an extra special gift in my place.  When Drew's mom was visiting 2 weeks ago I took advantage of the extra baby holding arms and put together a quilt for baby girl.

The nursery is pink and gray with pops of coral and orange, so those are the colors I used.

This quilt design is one I first saw on Pinterest - it was so easy!  The print fabrics were cut in 4" strips and the white minky in 2" strips.  I sewed them together and used gray quilt binding around the edges.

The backing is pink flannel with a panel of white minky in the center.

I quilted it together by "stitching in the ditch" of each strip - simple!

This blanket turned out so cute and oh so soft - I really wanted to keep it for myself.  ha ha!  I hope you and your sweet baby girl love it, Ali!

hadley fern {two months}

Hadley Fern, you are TWO months old!

and seem pretty darn happy about it.  You are the smiliest baby these days!  Right around 6 weeks old you started smiling and haven't stopped since.  I hope it keeps up forever!

These past 2 months have gone by in a flash.  Much, much faster than they did with your brother.  I just want to snuggle you all the time before I look up and see that another 2 months are gone.

You have really come alive this month!  These days you look all over and lock eyes with us easily.  I love the way you hear my voice and turn your head looking for me.  You're my girl for sure.  :-)

We got out the activity mat on Christmas Eve and you are l-o-v-i-n-g it!  You gaze so intently at the toys and have started batting at them with your hands.  At first I thought it was just an accident, but then I watched closely and could practically see your little brain figuring out how to raise your arm and hit the frog leg. You're a smart girl!

Hadley, you are the happiest baby.  You hardly ever cry unless you are hungry.

{or tired of pictures - ha!}

My arms are your favorite place to sleep during the day and I oblige as often as possible.  I do lay you down from time to time, but we aren't stressing about crib napping yet.  I stressed out majorly with your brother and it was a huge waste of time and energy, so I'm taking a more laid back stance with you - for now at least.  :-)

At night you sleep like an angel.  You are still a bit of a night owl, going to bed around 10pm, but then you sleep at least 5 hours before needing to eat.  A few times you've gone 7-8 hours which I'm pretty sure can't last - way too good to be true.  You sleep in your crib and have been happy there from day 1.

We go to the doctor for your 2 month check-up next week so I'll update with your stats then.

At 2 months, Hadley...

• eats every 2-3 hours during the day and 5-7 hours at night {although she slept from 10:30-7:30 last night - wow!}
• is exclusively breastfed
• sleeps on and off throughout the day
• makes great eye contact
• reaches for toys
• wears size 0-3 month clothes
• wears size 1 diapers
• holds her head up really well
• is already so close to rolling over {sheesh!} - can't leave you on the sofa by yourself!
• greatly enjoyed her 1st Christmas and was completely spoiled  :-)

Oh Hadley, we love you more than words can say sweet girl.  You were needed in our family - there was a void here only you could fill.  I love your sweet coos and look forward to the big smiles you so freely give.  You are smart and beautiful and make us laugh.  Don't grow up too fast, my dear.  Happy second month!

playing together

All I wanted for Christmas was for Asher to love his sister.

I got my wish - if only for a moment.  :-)

On Christmas Eve we got the activity mat out for Hadley to enjoy and Ash hopped right in next to her and started showing her all the toys.

She was mesmerized and clearly idolizes her big brother already.

I think they are going to have a lot of fun when she gets a little bigger!

hadley's first christmas

At 8 weeks old Hadley had her first Christmas.

We had a very merry holiday here - more pictures and stories to come!

Merry Christmas, friends!

christmas card {2012}

We did a combo birth announcement/Christmas card this year.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

front:

back:

christmas 2012: take one

Last Sunday we celebrated Christmas with Drew's parents.  We won't be traveling this year so they came to see us a little early!

Hadley has a couple holiday outfits so, of course, she had to dress the part.  Having a live doll baby is getting really fun.  :-)

Asher put on his Christmas PJs too and we tried to get a cute shot of the 2 kids.

I feel like trying {and failing} to get nice photos of these 2 will be a constant in my life for the foreseeable future.  If they ever need a mugshot, however, we'll be all set.  ha!

After his birthday Asher was very prepared to open presents.  He's a pro now!  Grandma Linda and Papa Gene gave him this great chair from PBK.  Asher loves it!

Perfect for reading, watching movies, and playing on the iPad.  :-)

Hadley got a highchair {a Stokke Tripp Trapp like A has - we LOVE it!} but she isn't quite ready for it yet.  Sooner than I'd like she'll be needing a seat of her own so I'm thrilled to have it ready in the wings.  Thanks for celebrating Christmas with us Mom and Dad W!  We love you!

{phone dump thursday}

Is it really 5 days until Christmas???  I desperately needed to buy one last gift so the kids and I ventured to the mall yesterday.  It was my first time taking both of them by myself and we did great!  Asher rode in the stroller as per his usual and Hadley rode in the Beco.  She slept the whole time, making it really easy.  I'm still thinking about getting a double stroller for trips like that.

Does anyone have a double you like?  Dislike?  Do tell!

Last week I used a barrette I made to tame H's wild tuft of hair.  It was so darn cute I got busy making her more.  :-)

Asher's birthday filled up my phone pretty well!

We didn't have an official party for him, but did get together with a few friends at a bouncing place {Asher's favorite!}.  How cute are these little guys?!

The kiddos wore a bunch of clothes that Aunt Erin sent them.  Love, love the Big Wheel!

Last Sunday we celebrated Christmas with Drew's parents.  Hadley debuted one of her holiday outfits and was SO adorable with a teeny tutu - I die.

Hadley has been super smiley this week!

Can't wait to see and share Christmas photos next week - you can follow me on Instagram at ecwilk53 if you'd like!

turning three: party!

Between Hadley's birth, my surgery, and the fact that we still don't know many people here we decided that a big birthday party for Asher just wasn't in the cards.  Luckily he didn't mind and was perfectly happy to have a party at home with his grandparents.

There was cake, of course!  Asher loves nothing more than 'happy cake'!

There may have been some presents too - ha!

Asher is so into presents now, just in time for Christmas!  He appreciated each and every gift fully before moving on to the next one.

We tried to get a picture of the 4 of us.  I wish I was lying when I said this is the best one we got.  3/4 of us are looking at the camera and smiling.  Win.  :-)

Happy birthday Asher!

turning three: day one

Asher's 3rd birthday started out like any other day when I went in to say good morning. ..except that I flashed the camera at him as he woke up.  ha ha - sorry buddy!  Drew had to travel all last week so he wasn't able to be home on 12/13 and wanted a record of the whole day.  Here's what a brand new 3 year old looks like!

Happy Birthday, Asher!

Once he got over being annoyed at me for blinding him, Ash realized that if his doorway was any indication, this day held special potential.

The fun kept on coming as he got to eat his favorite breakfast off of a very special plate!

When I showed it to him Asher gave me the best surprised face and said, "mommy!  It's Asher on the plate!"  Needless to say, it's a hit {and our new favorite way to dine}.

Asher had school on his birthday so we headed there armed with lots of cupcakes to share with his classmates.  Everyone {including the teachers} were very excited to see us loaded with treats.  ha!

Drew's mom was in town all last week so she stayed home with Hadley while I ran a ton of birthday and Christmas errands during Asher's school hours.  Luckily for Asher one of those errands was stopping by the party store for balloons!  This boy loves him some balloons!

Wouldn't even let go of them to eat lunch.  {have I mentioned how much I love him?  This sweetness chokes me up - may I always be able to make him so happy}

That evening we had a tiny party of 4:  Asher, me, Hadley, and Grandma Linda.  Regardless of our small numbers, we had a big celebration!  There was, of course, the birthday song...

candles on cupcakes...

and a wish.

The next day the party continued because Daddy was home!...