Fall and Christmas Craft Projects!

Toward the end of my pregnancy, I packed away my sewing machine and supplies. I made sure I wrapped up any projects a couple of weeks before Sadie was due, partly because I was getting too big and uncomfortable to sit and sew and partly because I didn't want to go into labor early and have sewing stuff and unfinished projects sitting around.

Now that I'm starting to feel more like my old self again (slightly more energy, fitting into old clothes, thinking of more things beyond laundry and breastfeeding), my mind has been going a mile a minute with projects I want to do! I thought I'd share a roundup of what I plan to work on over the coming weeks; here's hoping I actually get some of these projects done!

Waterproof Bibs
I have a lot of colorful, fun cotton fabric that I've been wanting a project for. I also have a baby drooling a lot while she eats solids and making a mess. The cloth bibs soak right through and the drool just runs off the wipeable bibs. So I love this waterproof bib tutorial from Our Little Beehive. I've bought everything else I need to make these (flannel and PUL fabric) and I'm so excited!

One of my favorite soon-to-be-a-bib fabric is Ann Kelle's "Argyle Bright."

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Christmas Stockings
Now that Sadie's first Christmas is coming up I'm excited for us all to have matching Christmas stockings to use each year. I found this simple pattern and tutorial from About.com and made my first stocking with some fabric I had on hand. It was super simple! This one isn't perfect (the first time I make something it rarely ever goes quite as planned), so this one will be for the dog and the other three will be for me, Sadie and Steve!

Top Secret Project!
I have a super special project in the works for Miss Sadie. If all goes as planned I will be trying to make similar ones for friends who've recently had little girls. Excited to share at a later date (you know, if I don't totally mess up the project!).

Ornament
I want Sadie to have a "first Christmas" ornament for the tree. I thought about buying something through Etsy that's personalized, but part of me doesn't want to spend the money and the other part of me thinks it would be so fun to make something. I found this tutorial through Homemade Grits and it's perfect. I've made a "salt dough" like this before and it's really easy. Plus I love the thought of preserving Sadie's itty bitty hand print (and maybe I'll make two - one hand print and one foot print!). It'll be something we're sort of doing together and could be an easy tradition to do a different ornament together each year.

Flannel Sheet
It's cold out! So, of course, Sadie needs a flannel sheet for her crib. Especially because her room is in the basement. I made all of the sheets we currently use through the Bundles of Love tutorial.So, I bought some flannel fabric (after looking at every single flannel I could find to find just the perfect fabric!) and I'm excited to make Sadie's crib a little cozier. It will soon be stylin' with big polka dots!

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I'm excited to get a lot of these projects underway, but it is terribly hard to find the energy at the end of the day. And, of course, Sadie tends to not nap well on the weekends when she's with me. Her short and sweet 30 minute naps don't give me a lot of time to work on project! 

What projects are you hoping to get done over the next couple of months? And, how do you find the time?!

Sadie at 6 Months

Ahh, I have a 6 month old! And she is silly, loves to “dance” in her high chair, giggle, and eat all kinds of food. We’ve been having so much fun in the Koo household lately! Sadie has definitely been making me feel loved lately: she gets so excited to see me and is just so sweet and fun to be around. She is getting bigger and bigger (90th percentile for height and 50th for weight!) and is obsessed with her feet – loves putting them in her mouth.

Nicknames: Sadie Baby, Bear, Sadie Bear, Stinker, Silly Sadie
Temperament: Happy, happy, happy! You regularly smile at people when we are out and people always comment on how happy you are.
Things I Could Do Without: The recent night wakings. Nights have been tough and I go to bed holding my breath, wondering how many times you will be up. You're finally just getting back to your regular sleep-through-the-night routine!
Item/Toy We Love The Most:  Your high chair. You love sitting in it and it's great to be able to put you in it while we do things in the kitchen!
Item/Toy You Love The Most: The swings at the park. We just started taking you and you can't get enough. You giggle and giggle and giggle as soon as we start pushing you.
Things I’m Loving Most Right Now: Interacting with you more. I feel like you pay more attention to me, look at me more closely, and really engage with me. It is the best!
Things You’re Loving Most Right Now: It's probably a tie between grabbing your feet and eating! You are such a good eater!
Sounds/Words: You having been saying "mama"! It's so fun to hear you say it even though you don't really know what you're saying yet. The downside is that you often say "mama" when you are upset...over and over again it's "mama...mama...mammmmaaaa." So sweet but breaks my heart!
Foods You Like: So far you've had banana, avocado, sweet potato, butternut squash, prunes, peas, carrots and applesauce.Prunes and banana are probably your favorite!

Sadie has lots of adorable dresses courtesy of my sister. She’s still growing into them!



I was so sad when her size 6 month jeggings became capris! We finally had to upgrade to the 12 month size. I have one long baby!




Comfy outfit!



This shirt (dress??) was from one of our Wittlebee boxes. We’re not regular subscribers – I just don’t think I’ve gotten the combinations right to get things I really love. This piece, however, is one of my favorites I’ve gotten!



Casual pants! We love super casual, relaxed Sundays.