Homemade Baby Legwarmers

Last week I met a super cool blogging Mama who after I complimented her little girl’s tights (as a Mom to boys all the pretty, feminine nuances of little girls always catch my eye) she told me that she’d made them, and they actually weren’t tights but leg warmers.

I immediately perked up because I absolutely adore the Baby Legs brand, having forked over $12 a pair for Copper I remember thinking to myself the first time I put them on his little legs how simple these were, and subsequently had a “Why didn’t I think of that” moment. I also thought that they were probably very easy to make, but never looked into it.

The super cool blogging Mama sent me over to her blog where she provides step by step instructions on how to make your own pair of baby legwarmers.

Last night I made 5 pair, from socks I purchased on clearance at Target. I couldn’t figure how to sew step 7 (I think you use the same technique you would when sewing a circle, but since I don’t know how to do that – I am going to look it up in a minute) I simply folded over the foot part minus the heel and toe and sewed from there because that was wide enough to fit around my sewing machine. The end result was pretty great, and my minor alteration actually fits perfectly around Coppers chubby thighs not cutting off his circulation as his Baby Legs brand can do.

I didn’t take pictures but if you’d like to see great instructions check them out at Crunchy Monkey’s DIY Babylegs Blog.

Honestly these are great in the winter. Copper has a pair on today underneath his pants, they help keep his ankles and calves warm when being carried. Mo also liked them on his arms pretending to have “super power” arms.

If you wanted to be really green about making them you could recycle a pair of your own socks, or if you’re like me and have a basket for mismatched socks (I think my dryer likes to have them for lunch) then you can make mismatched ones and be really unique and funky.

They make diaper changes a breeze, protect tender knees of little crawlers, and are so easy for potty trainers because they don’t have to worry about pulling down tights as well.

If you’re great with a sewing machine or even if you’re not (like me, who also probably needs a new machine) these are an easy and simple sewing project. After I got over a technical problem with my bobbin (the thread kept breaking), it took me about five minutes a pair.

Here's Copper happy and cute as a button in his new legwarmers.

Veterans Day - Tuesday Toot

My Tuesday Toot.... I thought since today is Veterans Day I'd toot blow my own horn for being the super duper, fabulous Air Force wife who has sometimes cursed always supported the Air Force. Through last minute changes in deployment that had him go off to War on December 23rd, thus causing him to miss his first born's first Christmas, First Birthday, and a million other tiny milestones. For putting up with long hours that usually hardly ever go past 12 hours for which he never gets paid overtime. For hours spent creating a power point presentation for a co-service member who was retiring after 20 plus years of service. For which I was amply applauded, or so I hear since I wasn't there to be thanked in person, instead I was home, very pregnant, stuck in my house because we lost our second car (yes, the one SuperAirman took to work) when someone carelessly ran a stop sign and hit my SuperAirman, when he was going back to work after a pre-natal appointment. For which I was not so happy to see him do because who cares if we live over 50 miles from his duty station, the price of gas is of no concern to us because we earn the big bucks!

For always supporting my main squeeze and the uniform he wears, because really, we're grateful that we can serve our shining nation, even if to do so causes some minor and albeit a few major sacrifices. Eight years down, 12 more to go till, maybe, perhaps, I'll get to make him a PowerPoint presentation of our life spent in the Air Force. So far it has been mostly great.

Happy Veterans Day

Please remember to thank a service member today. They're the ones who really make the tough sacrifices.

If you don't know of one personally here's a few ways to show your gratitude. Chances are he or she will squirm a little bit, look down at the floor, or turn a shade that resembles a lobster, but they'll appreciate it, and you'll make their day!

America Supports You
Lets Say Thanks
Thank a Soldier

If you're still in the thankful mood, feel free to thank this military wife. I love comments! wink!


You can thank



for being the inspiration for this blog post!

Conversation with Copper

My four month old and I just had a conversation.


Here's how it went...


Copper: grunt, gurrgle, grunt.

Mommy: grunt, gurrgle, grunt.

Copper: coo, coo, grunt, really long grunt.

Mommy: coo, coo, grunt, really long grunt.


It was the best conversation I had all day.

Growing Up Sometimes Works Best If Done In Baby Steps

Last night my son grew up just a little bit more. After I red him his story, we said our prayers, and talked about the days events I asked him if he wanted me to cuddle him.
He promptly responded, “No Mommy, I can go to sleep all by myself.” So I kissed him good night, turned off the light and went into my own room across the hall. Thinking to myself that my little boy at four years old had just given me a glimpse into what an older version of himself will one day become.

Awhile later, my “big kid” called me, saying that he didn’t like the dark.

I offered up my cuddling services and this time they were accepted. I came to the conclusion that growing up is hard, and sometimes works best if done in small, miniscule steps.

As he fell asleep snuggled up to me, the big kid in him defeated for the moment, by the little boy he still is.

Nicólle

Friends, French, & Fetal Impressions

Have you ever seen the FRIENDS episode where Phoebe is attempting to teach Joey French? Phoebe, with her great, authentic French accent, is taking it slow with her pal but he just isn’t getting it. Does Joey know it? Absolutely not! He thinks he is picking up the language fast and is proud of himself. The hilarious bit in the show is listening to how he is absolutely butchering the beautiful pronunciations.

Skip ahead, oh say, 4 years (the episode aired in 2004)….and voila! I am Phoebe, and Sister Bear (my daughter) is Joey. Only, we are not speaking French…it’s English. Sister Bear is almost 15 months old and tries with all her might to imitate every word that comes out of my mouth. She gets a real serious face and repeats, repeats, repeats…only it’s definitely some other language!
Maybe all those FRIENDS reruns I watched while pregnant with her made an impression. After all, they say a fetus can hear the outside world while in the womb, right?

-Christine

Flying Time

Here's a snippet of a conversation I had with my four year old earlier.

"Mom, can we go out and play with my skateboard?"

"Not right now, it's six in the morning, the sun is still sleeping."

"When the sun wakes up?"

"Not exactly, but we'll go sometime today."

"OK."

A few minutes pass, as I lie in bed trying to be comatose.

"Mom, I've been waiting three hours."

Not.

Apparently time flies when your Mom pretends to sleep.

Nicólle

You Know You're a Mommy When...

You know you're a Mommy to a newborn when, a 30 minute nap on your couch leaves you wanting a longer nap completely refreshed. A 30 minute nap which should have been a longer one because your newborn took a three hour nap, while which you were:

1. doing laundry
2. cleaning your kitchen
3. playing with your eldest child
4. blogging
5. surfing the web
6. dusting sporadically (those fall decorations can't go up on a dusty mantle or entertainment center)
7. hanging out on MySpace and Facebook
8. catching up on your soap opera Days of Our Lives

when you should have been trying to get more than a thirty minute "cat" nap.

Multitasking should be considered an art form.