A couple of things Ruth Ann picked up in Alabama

Well, I left South Carolina on Wednesday afternoon with a baby who had not a tooth in her precious little blond head...but I returned on Sunday with a baby who has 2 little bottom teeth! The discovery was made by Erin on Friday morning before we left her house in Montgomery to head to Auburn. She was playing with Ruth Ann while I was preparing for departure and noticed a little tooth poking through. She stuck her finger in Ruth Ann's mouth to confirm the first tooth spotting and sure enough, there it was! Then Saturday it's little neighbor popped out! I'm totally shocked because I had convinced myself she would be over 1 year old before we got any teeth. And the funny thing was the night before Erin & I had a discussion about Ruth Ann's lack of teeth and I felt around for one and couldn't feel a thing. Then like magic it pops through over night...amazing!



Can you see them peeking through on the bottom??

Ruth Ann LOVES Baby Signing Time

So I mentioned a few posts ago that I have started using the Baby Signing Time videos to help Ruth Ann begin to learn how to use sign language to help us understand what she is trying to tell us. So far she LOVES these DVDs...and here's the proof...



She is giving it her undivided attention...which means her momma LOVES them too!

Tara's newest obsession...

This week at Kelly's Korner the theme of "Show Us Your Life" is to show off whatever you make or sell...another topic I looked forwarded to posting.

Many years before Ruth Ann was born I think God was preparing me to be the mother of a little girl. I went to school in the heart of the South (Auburn, Alabama) and at freshman orientation (Camp War Eagle) I met Amanda (Ray) Newman who became one of my best friends. My mom has said more than once that I learned all my Southern ways while living in Alabama & Amanda definitely played a big role in my indoctrination into all things Southern. One thing she introduced me to is what I consider the most southern form of needle work...smocking. I took a smocking class as senior in college at a small locally owned sewing store...who does that?? Here was my first project...



I only learned how to smock, not sew (the sweet lady who taught me to smock also assembled the dress for me for a small fee). Obviously being able to sew the dress together is a very important step in the completion of a bishop dress. So a full year before Ruth Ann was born I asked for this for Christmas...



I can't not put into words exactly how much I love and have enjoyed this machine. It's a Baby Lock Ellure Plus sewing & embroidery machine and I could sing its praises for days! It is a great machine for a beginner sewer like myself and the embroidery features are so easy to use. I actually learned how to use the embroidery aspects of the machine before I learned how to sew on it...I'm still learning how to sew to this very day. My husband nearly choked when I told him how much it was going to cost (plus computer software, plus embroidery lettering software, plus it's own personal lap top)...until he went into The Creative Sewing Center and saw how much more some of the other machines cost. I almost decided to forget about purchasing a machine that embroidered too and just stick with the sewing machine only...but again, I was being prepared for a little girl and as a good southern mama I want everything ( or at least every other thing) she wears to be monogrammed...so I went with my gut and got a machine that sews and embroiders...a decision I have never regretted!

So now that I had the machine...I needed to learn how to sew a bishop dress. So I smocked a dress and signed up for a class. My niece, Ada, wore this dress for her 3month pictures...



But I didn't practice what I had learned, so after Ruth Ann was born I took another bishop construction class and produced this dress...





I think I can finally make one on my own, but I've learned that smaller sizes are more difficult to assemble, so the dresses I am working on now are all for next fall.

Although I do monogram very often on my machine, my current obsession is applique. I've started making and selling things to very close friends and wish I could make a profession of it...however, audiology is a much more lucrative career and I can't justify quiting my job to start up a new career. I would love to one day own a children's clothing store and then I could offer this service to the public at large. Right now what it provides me with is a little extra cash to buy my embroidery supplies and to off set the cost of the clothes I buy for Ruth Ann. If I was fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home mom (because I am very envious of you ladies) it would be a great way to earn a little extra cash...that being said, if you're stopping by my blog via Kelly's Korner, I'm not looking to take on extra business at this time, but I'll tell you where I get my patterns & t-shirts so you can either do it for yourself, or find someone in your area to help you out. For those of you who are good friends...and you know who you are...get in touch with me and I would be happy to help you in whatever way I can.

I purchase my applique patterns from The Embroidery Boutique. There is not a single pattern I've ordered that I have not loved...I want one of each! I get most of my t-shirts from Monag. They offer lots of different styles and the quality of the shirts are excellent. I also pick up blank tees at Target almost each and every time I'm in the store. The boys shirts usually have a tiny pocket...which I think is silly...I've read these pockets are very easy to remove with a seam ripper, but I haven't tried to do this yet.

I use this scallop patch a lot because you can use it on long sleeve shirts, short sleeve shirts, for any holiday or occasion and I've even used it on towels...









With the height of the holiday's approaching, I've been working on Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas...













I also love this applique because it combines a monogram and an applique...



I made these shirts for Ada and Ruth Ann for our Disney trip last summer...I didn't see another shirt at Disney that I thought was a cute as these were. I purchased this design from Pegasus Embroidery




And my favorite by far...



As soon as I saw this tiger pattern I knew Ruth Ann had to have it for football season!

All of these shirts are so easy to make...I promise! I highly encourage anyone reading this blog entry to look into learning how to smock, sew, monogram or applique...even if you don't have little ones just yet...getting a head start is never a bad idea. I grew up with a mom who sewed dresses for me throughout my childhood so I knew one day it would be important for me to do the same for my children. The more I sew, the more I feel like it's a dying art form since we've become a society where it's easier to run out and buy whatever you need instead of making it for yourself. Since more people are becoming "fiscally responsible" these days, maybe sewing will see a rebirth...I sure hope sew...ha, pun intended!

It's Great To Be An Auburn Tiger

It's been a while since I participated in "Show Us Your Life" at Kelly's Korner, but the topic this week is your favorite college traditions, so you know this immediately sparked my interest. Having had grown up in South Carolina and now living back in South Carolina again, many have asked me why I decided to go to Auburn. I didn't grow up cheering for Auburn or any other college team for that matter...the reason I decided to make a college tour of Auburn was for my major...I know, boring. But the day I made the decision to go to Auburn was anything but boring. My mom and I made the trip with her best friend and her daughter (Candy) who both bled orange and blue. As far as I know Candy had applied to no other schools...and honestly, her parents may not have allowed her to attend a different school...which may be my response to Ruth Ann if she announces she wants to go to the University of Alabama. Anyway, Candy's family secured us 4 tickets to the Auburn vs. Alabama game in the fall of 1995. I know everyone thinks their rivalry game is the best rivalry game...but get real...no game matches the Iron Bowl, period, end of discussion. We watched Auburn beat Alabama and at the end of the game the sun began to set causing the sky to turn orange and blue. My mom turned to me and said that was a sign from God that I should attend Auburn...and so I did! I think it's also proof positive that God is in fact an Auburn fan!

One of the things that makes Auburn special to me are all the traditions...my mom thinks any time you do something twice at Auburn it becomes a tradition! Here are some of my favorites...

Tailgating with friends is always a fun way to spend the afternoon before a game. I also love seeing all orange...even if it's not the best color for my complexion!

So I'm not wearing orange, but I love this picture and shamelessly post it every chance I get!



The walk into Jordan-Hare is always exciting...I love the anticipation of seeing Auburn play!


(I can't believe how young Spencer looks in this picture!)

I also LOVE to hear the band play...as I'm typing this I'm humming the fight song..."War Eagle fly down the field. Ever to conquer, never to yield." I also love participating in the cheers..."Everybody get your hands up for Boda-Getta!"...you would have to have been in the Auburn student section at some point in your life to understand that last tradition!



I also love the eagle soaring around the field before kick off...I just got chills thinking about it...I couldn't find a picture on the computer to share this, but you know what I'm talking about, right?

I also love that anytime I wear something Auburn related I can count on hearing "War Eagle" at some point when I'm out in public. I love when I'm far from home and I hear those sweet words. It's like a secret hand shake or knock that means we're all apart of the same family!

And last, but definitely not least, rolling Toomer's Corner after an Auburn victory...





Beautiful! In the future I hope this little girl learns to love Auburn as much as I do. I left for college scared of not having any good friends there and living so far away from home. But what I discovered on The Plains was a home away from home and friends that became like family. I want all those same things for Ruth Ann one day ...but I just don't want those days to get here too fast!



We're heading to Auburn on Wednesday, so there will be lots of tailgating and Auburn themed pictures next week! I need to start deciding what she'll be wearing to her first (of many) tailgates!

Oh, and one more thing...WAR EAGLE!

Julianna's Birthday

While Mandy visited this week we celebrated Julianna's first birthday...

Here is Ruth Ann with her friends...



Julianna with her cake...



Every 1st birthday I've been to this year has ended this way. I've decided to buy 6 cup cakes the week before Ruth Ann's birthday and practice with them the week before her birthday. We'll see if it makes a difference.

Ruth Ann loved the gifts...I think she'll handle this part of her party just fine!





We bought Julianna some cute Pediped shoes...per her mom's request!





I can't believe we'll be celebrating her birthday is just a few weeks!

One of the funnest days...

So I know "funnest" is not a gramatically correct word, but really...today was the funnest day!

My Kate made a surprise visit to Lexington and invited Ruth Ann & I to join her and her friend Regan for a morning at the Harmon Pumpkin Patch...aka, the Harmon Tree Farm. I went out there expecting pumpkins only, but there is so much more going on out there! We wandered around snapping lots of pictures and enjoying each others company.



Obviously Baby Natalie is very excited to be pumpkin shopping...



And you know I had Ruth Ann posing for some Fall pictures...













And here's one for Grumpy to enjoy...Ruth Ann's visit time on a tractor...



Amelia and Greer had a fun time too...











And we tried to get a pictures of all three girlies...here's the best I could get...



I think they're all looking at Kate, so maybe she got a better picture!

While we were playing on the playground, I spotted one of these...



A reminder that Christmas is just around the corner!

Then we loaded up on tiny pumpkins and headed over to my friend Mandy's lake house to visit with her and her girls while they were in town from Alabama. But before we left, I spotted this sign and had to take a picture for Arch...I still can't believe a teenager lives in this house...



Here are Mandy's sweet girls...





Then Ruth Ann went on her first boat ride!



Doesn't Ruth Ann look giagantic in this picture with Holly??



And we attempted to get a group picture...you decide if it was successful...







Not very sccessful...but I plan on trying over and over until we get the perfect picture of these little girls!