Thursday, December 27, 2012

WE DID IT!!!

I can't even begin to express my gratitude towards those who helped set up this amazing fundraiser and also those who were so generous to bid on all of our items. We were able to raise
$3,613.00
for these wonderful families.
 
I have listed below the winning bids for each item. Some of you didn't leave email addresses so I will need you to email ME (tinyseamstress@yahoo.com) so I can get you your prize. I will email everyone else directly with instructions on your payments and prizes.
 
Thank YOU all again! This means so much to me and I can't even begin to express my gratitude. For the first time I was able to experience first hand how wonderful this quilting community really is and how blessed I am to be a part of it. I love all of my friends so much who contributed and will forever be indebted to them! Thanks again and WAY TO GO! I'm so excited to get this money into the Emilie Parker Fund!

Friday, December 21, 2012

Fundraiser for victims in Connecticut

Are you feeling as helpless as we are about this tragic shooting in Connecticut? My hands are literally shaking as I type this and consider all of the emotions that those parents could possibly be feeling about the loss of their sweet little angels. This incident hit a little close to home for my family, as it was right next door to my brother who lives over there.

A few of  his ward members attend Sandy Hook Elementary and one little girl in particular lost her life. Her father, Robbie Parker,  spoke out about the shooting with a heart open only to love. Monday morning, my sweet, sweet brother Brett was interviewed on Good Morning America, along with two other religious leaders. All three of whom, have inspired many of us to be a little better.

Last Friday morning, before I heard about the shooting, my mind was focused on my children. I was worried that they were going to be discouraged  on Christmas morning, because I had only bought a few of the items on their list. When I came home and watched the news, I listened as one sweet mother spoke about her little angel wanting a horse for Christmas and how they had purchased cowboy boots for her. Suddenly my mind took a little perspective on things.

I've been watching my brother and his family mourn with their friends from afar and my heart is so saddened. It was only a few years ago, that my little town was mourning the loss of a sweet angel too. All I can think, is that Heavenly Father must really need these tender and ambitious Spirits on the other side to help with the work load.

I've gotten together with several of my friends. We have put together an auction here on my blog. We are hoping that all of you might be willing to help us raise some more funds for these sweet families??? Every single penny earned here will go directly to the Emilie Parker Fund. This fund was originally established to just help Emilie's family, but her family has decided to divide up all the money with each of the families affected by this horrific tragedy. So you can rest assure that all of your money will be helping each family of these victims:

Charlotte, Daniel, Rachel, Olivia, Dylan, Chase, Dawn, Jesse, Ana, James, Grace, Anne Marie, Emilie, Jack, Noah, Jessica, Avielle, Lauren, Mary, Victoria, Benjamin, Joshephine, Madeleine, Catherine, Caroline, and Allison

We have listed items below and each item is priced lower than what you would purchase at retail. To bid, all you have to do is place your bid in the comments section. The bidding will end in one week, December 26th at 4:00pm.

Please leave your email address with each bid in case we need to contact you. We will have a paypal account set up specifically for winning bids, but if you'd like to directly donate, we are encouraging that you do so to the Emilie Parker Fund.

Also, here is a list of the participating designers and friends thus far (we have a few more coming):

Amy Hamberlin of Kati Cupcake Designs
Amanda Herring of The Quilted Fish
Bonnie Olaveson of Cotton Way
Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms
Jina Barney and Riley Blake Designs
Melda Johannes of Lilly Belle Designs
Roni Poston my best friend forever
Shelley Stanley my sweet friend
Tiffany Jenkins of Tiny Seamstress Designs (me)

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

We'll call this one "Yogurt Face"

I walked in the kitchen the other day and found this:
Her brother had given her some yogurt to be nice. And she decided to take a bath in it.
Isn't she adorable? I sure think so.
I was a little frustrated at first, because it was right before bed and I had already bathed her.
But as her luck would have it, she got a second bath and she was thrilled!
Once she realized I was taking pictures, she offered a sweet rendition of,
"Where is thumbkin?" That's why she's pointing her fingers. ;)
Love you Rem and your silly brothers too!!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Black Friday Sale

This year there is so much to be thankful for including friends, cousins, parents, and those little hooligans up there! This is by far my favorite time of year and I am excited to spend it with family! 

To go along with this wonderful holiday I've decided to join in on the Black Friday madness. If you're staying in and want to buy a few gifts online, maybe you'll want to stop by my shop and pick up a few stocking stuffers for 50% OFF!!!

That's right, starting at 9:00 am this Friday, all patterns in my shop will be 50% off, but ONLY for 2 hours. The sale will end at 11:00 am sharp, so be early and use this code at checkout: BLACKFRIDAY

I will also be throwing in a special surprise for all orders over $30 all day on that day! Yay!

So if you haven't made your mother a gift yet or maybe your BFF needs a new diaper bag like mine does then hop on over and use the code BLACKFRIDAY for the best deal of the year!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

WINNER

I used my trusty friend random.org to find a winner for me. There was no way I could choose! You all have such great quirks! Thank you so much for sharing...even if you were a bit embarrassed.
This was a lot of fun!
 
And so, the winner of the Shore Bag Packaged Kit is:
 
ANNALEE TAYLOR
Annalee's quirk? She can touch her knees together with her feet about a foot apart!
That's Awesome!
Email me to claim your prize. :)
 
Also, if you liked my FB page I will be doing another drawing tonight for a Shore Bag Pattern!
So head on over there if you still haven't and like my page for another chance to win!
 
Thanks again for all who entered!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Shore Bag KIT Giveaway!!!

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS CLOSED
 
I have been so overwhelmed with gratitude lately on the response that I've received for my Shore bag pattern. And I thought that it would be fun to do a giveaway, since it's been awhile since I've had one.
 
The giveaway is for a COMPLETE kit to make The Shore Bag!
Which includes:
One Shore Bag Pattern
Fabric for the Pattern
Fusible fleece
One magnetic snap
4 silver sliders
 
 
All you have to do is leave me a comment about your quarkiest quirkiest feature.
 For example: Mine is that I can touch my nose with my toe without bending my knee! :-)
 
I will pick a winner on Monday, so spread the word and make sure you enter!!! Also, if you like my facebook page, I MIGHT have a second place prize for my followers there. ;-)
_________________________________________________________________
 
On a side note: The black sliders (as seen in photo above) are out of stock. I will be using silver sliders for all custom orders. Thus far, they have received great reviews.
AND
All Christmas orders for the Shore bag MUST be placed by midnight on November 15th! 

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS CLOSED! THANK YOU!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

The Wreath: So Worth It!


For 3 years I have walked through Target looking at this very wreath. I have dreamed of having it in my home and wondering where I'd hang it. I'd occassionally see it hanging in other's homes and just think of how dreamy it would be to have my very own. BUT the wreath was $40. To me, $40 seems like a high price to pay for a wreath. Maybe it's not. Maybe that's cheap to some, but for me it was a lot. So I didn't get it. I would just walk through the home decor section and admire it. And then today when I was in town, I decided that I was going to buy the darn wreath! 3 years had been too long. I felt like if I wanted something that badly, then I should just get it, no matter what the cost. Right? And so I did.

And that got me thinking about my children. Strange I know. But I thought about that first day and holding Sawyer in my arms. The doctors hadn't confirmed his condition yet, but I knew he was going to be little. He was worth it though.

No matter the cost in raising the children I have, they are SO WORTH IT! Every inch lost in height, has been gained in personality. Every ounce of hearing gone, measures double in pure genious. My children come with greatness all their own. Talents some can only dream of having, strengths given so naturally that many strive years to gain, and a love and happiness that can only be wrapped in a package so precious as theirs.

In my past I have had people come into my life patting themselves on the back for accepting someone like me, and just as quickly they have left (or been dismissed) because they couldn't measure up or they just couldn't handle my differences. But then there are those that do measure UP! And I know right off the bat who those individuals will be. And they stick around forever. They don't care about the price they have to pay to be in our lives, they are just there, always!

Parents that I know worry so much about the negative that people say to their children or about their children, but I just want to offer my own experience. It's NOT WORTH IT! Just let it go. Certainly, teach your children how to stand up for themselves and to not be walked on or mistreated. But also teach them to move on because if they don't, they will miss out on those incredible people that come into their lives and make them so much better. Those people who aren't about the cost, but about the quality of person they're investing in.

Your children are SO WORTH IT!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Oh Halloween...


 Halloween, for some reason seems to get more difficult for me every year. Maybe it's because I have more children? Who knows. The boys asked if Remi could be Izzy, from Jake and the Neverland Pirates. So I made her a pink costume (pixie dust and all) and she wore it to the church carnival, where she drooled candy all over it and smeared a banana in it. And because I certainly did NOT have time to drop all of my cookie making and class visits on Halloween to do laundry, she didn't have her costume for the actual trick-or-treating. Thankfully, I'm obsessed with keeping all of our costumes for dressup and I was able to dig up the old inch worm costume for her. It was a little snug, but it worked! :)
 And then there's my sweet Sawyer who is right between toddler and boy size. However, he rocked his Optimis Prime costume. He was SO proud that everyone knew who he was and as usual, he scored so much extra candy for his knock-out smile and gorgeous blue eyes.
Ruger's was my favorite, purely because the situation was flat out comical and frustrating. He is growing so fast. I can't keep up! I've started giving him my clothes, just to avoid shopping! Needless to say I purchased this costume a month ago and last week it was too short. So I took it back to get a bigger size and they were all sold out! So we made it work. And the only time he put his mask on was during pictures...funny kid. The woman at Target gave me a lecture on how her children never wear masks and that mine shouldn't, blah, blah. Lame.
Here they are before the ward party. I know this photo isn't the greatest, but I was lucky to even get one at all. And now it's over and we can put all our energy into eating candy and preparing for Thanksgiving! Here I come Mom!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Update on the Shore Bags

I just wanted to throw out a quick update on the custom Shore bags. I had mentioned in the original post that I was only going to make a few. However, because there are so many people interested, I went ahead and ordered another shipment (or 2) in of the fabrics. If you'd like one, just shoot me an email: tinyseamstress(at)yahoo(dot)com and I'll get a custom listing set up for you in my shop!

The bags will look exactly as they look in this post and each one comes with a custom handstitched tag, by yours truly. :)

So no worries, there should be plenty and I will try and get some of the fabrics listed in the shop as well, for those of you looking for it to sew with.

Thanks so much for all of the support! I love you guys...really!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Number 1

 I'm a little behind on some of my blogging, but I had to make sure that this guy didn't get lost in the mix. Ruger started first grade this year. That's why he's showing off a number 1 below. This boy is my favorite 7 year old in the whole wide world. He reads like an all star and can do math like a pro.

Thanks for posing for me on your first day, even though you "thought" we were late. :) Love you dude!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Trick-or-Treat Tote Tutorial

 
Now that my boys are getting older, I'm thinking that their little old Halloween buckets aren't going to cut it anymore. These two are so excited for trick or treating this year, they have their costumes all picked out, our calendar is scribbled with parties, and of course they are SO excited to fill up on candy.
 
I have had this design in my mind for months and haven't known what to use it for and then it hit me, HALLOWEEN of course! The tote starts out small, you know, for when you just get started, but then as the night goes on and your bag fills up, you can unfold it and it gets double in size! I really love it! Do you? I hope so, because I've made a tutorial for you to make your own! :)
 
Should we get started?
 
You will need:
- 1/2 yard of fabric for the outside body
-1/2 yard fabric for the lining
 

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS:

Body Fabric:
1. Cut two 18" tall by 16" wide pieces for body.
2. Cut four 2" by 9" pieces for body handles.

Lining Fabric:
1. Cut two 18" tall by 16" wide pieces for lining.
2. Cut four 2" by 9" pieces for lining handles.

 
SEWING INSTRUCTIONS:
 
1. Handles: You're going to make four handles total, as shown above. Begin first by pinning two body handle pieces right sides together and sew down both long edges. Turn right sides out, press, and top stitch (1/4") down both long sides. Repeat, until you have two body handle pieces and two lining handle pieces as shown above. 
 

2. Handle Placement: Mark the top center of each lining piece. Measure from the top center to the right 2" and center end of one handle piece facing UP. Measure from the top center to the left 2" and center the other end of the same handle piece. Sew both ends in place. Repeat with another handle on the other lining piece.

Measure from the top center down 9 1/2" for lower handles. Measure to the right 2" of the 9 1/2" marking and center end of one handle piece facing DOWN. Measure to the left 2" of the 9 1/2" marking and center the other end of the same handle piece. Sew both ends in place. Repeat with last handle on the other lining piece.

Note: On my lower handles, I tucked the ends under before sewing in place so I would have a clean edges. This is optional.

 
3. Body: Place both body pieces right sides together. Sew down both 18" sides and across the bottom.

4. Lining: Place both lining pieces (the ones with the handles) right sides together. Sew down both 18" sides and across the bottom, leaving a 3" in the bottom to turn.

5. Bag Assembly: Place body inside of lining with right sides together and pin around top edges with seams LINED UP and handles TUCKED IN. Sew around the entire top edge.
 

6. Finishing Touches: Turn bag right sides out through the 3" opening in the bottom of the lining, as shown above. Press top edge and top stitch (1/4") around the top of bag. Top stitch 3" opening closed.

Now your little guy/girl is ready for a FULL night of trick-or-treating! I am making each of my children a tote to match their costumes! They are so excited to fill them up as much as they can! :)
 

Happy Trick-or-Treating!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

The Shore Bag

 
 New pattern? What? Really?
Heck yeah!
 
The Shore Bag came about after my many adventures to the lake this summer.
I wanted a bag that wasn't too big and said, "Beach!" all at the same time.
This bag can be used as a beach bag, a purse, a diaper bag, whatever you want!
It's so versatile!
 
And don't you just love that cute baby up there! I was so excited that little Zoe was a part of my cover! Thanks Beth for another fantastic cover!
 
The pattern includes clear instructions, illustrations, and a template for the handles.
Did you notice how they curve in at the shoulder? That's for easy gripping so they don't slide off, but they still have the "chunky" look.
 
 
There is one large inside pocket and one outside pocket.
The ties allow for your bag to expand up to 8 more inches in width!
Or you can sinch it up and keep it small for quick runs to the grocery store or a stroll across town.
 
 
The pattern is available now in my shop! So go grab yourself one...and maybe your sister too!
 I am taking custom orders for a short time on this bag (in these fabrics only). If you're interested please contact me via email: tinyseamstress (at) yahoo (dot) com
 
Happy Wednesday!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Lesson #2: Change can be for the better

You can start by reading lesson #1 here if you'd like.

One thing I've learned in life is that people come and go. Some of them won't make a huge impact, while others will change your life for the better. Dr. Armstrong was a person who truly changed my life for the better.

I think it's safe to say that Dr. Armstrong gave in to my persistant requests for the limb lengthening procedure. By the summer of 1996 I had been placed on the hospital's waiting list, placing me in line to begin my operations early summer of 1997.

That December in 1996, my freshman year of high school, I came home to find a message on the answering machine. It was a receptionist from Shriners in Salt Lake City. Her message sounded something like this, "We have Tiffany scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning, but she's not here..."
I don't really remember the rest of the message because I ran off to find my mom. She was downstairs in her piano studio getting things organized. I said, "Did you hear the message?" She said, "I know! I've cancelled lessons and your father is on his way home. We are leaving for Shriners tonight, so go get packed!"

I was SO excited! I remember I stood in my bedroom not even knowing what to pack for the hospital. For some reason it was in my mind that I'd be there for a couple of days and then head back home (oh, how little did I know). After we were all packed, my parents and I loaded up the car, leaving my older brother behind for the week, and we were off to Shriners for what was about to become the greatest experience in my adolescent life. We had to turn back a few times for things mom forgot, but then we were on our way!

It was a long night of driving through the worst blizzard I'd ever seen. We made it to Salt Lake City early, early that morning and before we headed in, I remember asking my dad for a blessing. We checked into the hospital about 1:00 AM and my parents were able to stay in one of the parent rooms there in the hospital. The nurse told me to get some rest, but I didn't sleep at all that night. I mean really? Sleep? How could I sleep? I was thinking about the next time I'd walk and how I'd be able to sit on the toilet without a stool or reach for my own glass to get a drink of water.

I wasn't thinking about how I wouldn't get to wear normal pants for the next 4 months or how I'd have to wash and disinfect my open wounds every morning and night or even how in just a few weeks I'd have an open wound on my tale bone from sitting in a wheelchair all day, every day. And I certainly wasn't thinking about the 30 pounds I'd lose from lack of appetite and physical activity. But I knew whatever path lie ahead, it would be worth it in the end.

The next morning I went in for surgery and I remember waking up later that day (8 hours to be precise) to my family surrounding me. My older brother, Klint and sister, Lesli and their spouses were attending BYU so they came to visit frequently. I don't remember the events that took place but I do remember the pain. Oh, the pain. I thought that I was going to die...no joke...I really didn't think I'd make it, but I figure I was only 14 and my perspective on life was minimal.

If you can imagine someone sliding two metal rods down the center of your femur bones and then drilling four very long 1/4" screw into the side of each leg and attaching those to two more large metal rods on the outside of your legs, then you can probably understand why I was in so much pain. Not to mention, the additional weight I had to carry in my legs, the 8 open wounds that I would have for the next 4 months, and having both femurs broken in half! While I would later appreciate this, at the time it was horrific for both myself and my parents.

When Dr. Armstrong came into visit me, I remember him holding my hand and asking how I was doing. I know that I expressed to him that I never ever wanted to do this operation again (this was the first of 7 surgeries for me) and he chuckled. He told me that we'd take it one day at a time. I just turned my head and went back to sleep.

The next 5 days would be the worst physical pain I'd ever experience. I think it was so difficult because my body had never experienced surgery before and so this was all new territory. I didn't even know how to prep for it mentally.  I am certain this made it even more difficult for my parents to watch. (Note: It may sound crazy to say that prepping for a surgery mentally can help, but it's true! I learned quickly that a positive attitude and focus on recovery, actually does help the process after surgery. Every surgery after this one had a much quicker recovery time for me and I think much of that was because I prepared myself and stayed positive).

I didn't sit up at all in those 5 days, the nurses would come and help me turn over occassionally and I didn't eat a single thing. I would wake up occassionally to visitors talking to my parents. Sometimes I'd get annoyed, but most of the time I'd just go back to sleep.

And then, on day 5, a bright bubbly nurse came into my bedroom. She was so sweet and so pretty. Her name was Rebekah. "Spelled just like in bible!" she'd say. She whipped open the curtains and said, "Good morning!" and then proceeded to pick up this porcelain doll that my sister had brought to me and said, "This doll has strawberry blonde hair just like mine!" I remember thinking, "Ok. really? Are we talking about a doll while I lay here dying?"

She asked if I wanted to sit up and I said no. But for some reason I found myself sitting up anyway. :) And I remember a great amount of anxiety coming over me. I started crying and told her to get my mom because I wanted out of bed. I had to get out. So she went and got my mom and it seemed like hours later (though it was probably only 10 minutes) she came in the room along with a team of nurses and a physical therapist. They all stood around to help me get into a wheelchair.

I should stop right here and explain that the reason there was always a "team" of people helping me wasn't because it was actually needed but it was because the situation was new to this hospital. They had performed other limb lengethenings, but not like this. Typically this procedure is used on football players who break a bone and lose some length in just one leg or on someone who's born with one leg longer than the other. It was typically performed on one section of the leg at a time, never two legs at the same time. So they were always extra cautious with me...well, almost always.

My mom pushed me around the hospital for a few minutes before I began to feel sick again and then we went back to the room to rest. This day was was the very beginning of a fun and amazing adventure for me. It was an awakening to a part of this world I never knew existed and I loved every single minute of it.

I stayed in the hospital for two weeks and then went home for Christmas. I returned two weeks later for my bi-monthly check-up (that's right every other Thursday, my dad would take off work to fly me down to Salt Lake for a check-up and then we'd fly home that night), while looking at my x-rays, the doctors noticed that only one of my legs were growing. The other had fused back together. Meaning, I had to go back in for surgery to "de-fuse" that bone so it would grow and catch up with the other one. While my parents we're frustrated about having to go through this again, I was thrilled!

Thrilled to get out of school and thrilled because even though Christmas was over at the hospital, it still wasn't really over. It would run all the way through New Years. :)  My brother used to get so mad at the gifts I would get and I felt so sorry for myself that I didn't care. Thankfully, later we both grew up! Now we're closer because of all of this.

Even though all of the children were showered with presents and celebrity visitors, that didn't make their lives easier. I witnessed things in that hospital, that I have never seen anywhere else (including television). There were children who had to live there for months at a time by themselves because their parents couldn't afford to travel back and forth with them. So the nurses took care of them while their parents worked to make ends meet.

I remember a little boy by the name of Miseal. He was five and from Mexico. He wore a halo device. That boy was like a little tornado running through the halls of the hospital. He was the first patient I met and not by choice. He had popped in my room one day because he wanted to see who the new patient was in room 21. The nurse quickly scooted him out and I could hear his high pitched voice across the hospital. He was happy and positive all the time! And he was always bored in class. There were about 8 of us in school and he was always asking the teacher for more work. By the time I was ready to leave in January, Miseal was beginning long division! Yes, long division, from the same little boy that ran around the hospital with plus-sized women's underwear stretched across his halo. It would be 8 long months before he'd see his mom or dad again. He would often call the nurses, "mommy" but he was happy. Shriners was his second home and he didn't seem to mind one bit.

We were all in that hospital to change, to make ourselves a little better. I came out of that hospital having grown a few inches and having a complete change of heart.


If you are interested in reading a little more about limb lengthening, I found this site to be very informative.
If you are looking to apply to get your child into Shriners, you can find more information here.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Dream BIG!

So...have you browsed your recent McCall's catalog? Did you notice anything familiar?
 
Perhaps, a couple of familiar handbags? Maybe?
 
Well, I am excited to say that some of my patterns had their first appearance in the 2012 summer catalog of the McCall Pattern Company. I am just so excited!!! You can check it out here if you'd like! Or head on over to your local craft store and stock up! And don't be surprised if you see me there turning all of the catalogs to my page and leaving them wide open on the counters for everyone to see. :)
 
I am just so grateful to be working with the wonderful people at McCalls and also for all of my family and friends cheering me on! I love you all!
 
 Photos courtesy of the McCall Pattern Company

Monday, September 3, 2012

Soccer

 Last summer Ruger played baseball and he thought it was so boring. So this year I was a little more ahead of the game and made sure that I got him signed up for soccer. He and Sawyer both played and they LOVED it, especially Ruger. He was such a team player and did great blocking the ball from the other team.
 I actually looked forward to game days and so did the rest of the family. Sawyer did great the first few games, but after that he became really bored. I'd try and pack snacks but it never seemed to be enough, so then he'd dig into Remi's food. Silly boy.
 Remi was so good to just sit in her stroller or on the grass and watch. She loved it too!
 She didn't like her mama constantly taking pictures though. :)
 I think Sawyer actually took this picture below. I have hundreds of pictures of Ruger playing and just a few of Sawyer on my phone because Sawyer took all of Ruger's pics.
 And then, he'd go back to bugging his sister.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Lessons I Have Learned In My Short Life

I don't know about you, but the hardest thing about blogging for me is putting myself out there. My biggest insecurity is the one thing that people seem to want to know the most about. I try and deter people with flashy handbags and my snazzy cut off jeans, but it doesn't seem to be working very well. ;-) Enter... my new series, Lessons I Have Learned In My Short Life.

During each lesson we will discuss questions, situations, past-times, or really anything to do with being short and having children who are also living a "short life." I hope this helps those parents out there who have so many questions about their new miracle that's been diagnosed with Achondroplasia. Or at the very least, maybe it will just help my children help their children.

So, here we go...

Lesson #1: This world isn't going to adapt to me and so I will have to adapt to the world.

All through grade school I was proud to be small, and I do mean PROUD! But then junior high came. I remember that first week so vividly. I was a mere 4'3" tall. I could barely reach a sink faucet, let alone the shelf in my locker. Heaven forbid the school burn down and the whole junior high rely on me to pull the fire alarm...I wouldn't have been able to do it! This was one of the first times I became truly frustrated with being short.

As the year progressed, I would notice my legs losing circulation from sitting in my desks all day without my feet touching the ground. People who know me well, know that I still prefer to sit on the ground anyday, as opposed to sitting in a chair. And as Sawyer grows up I've noticed him doing the same. He struggles to even sit in his booster seat for too long before his legs start to hurt.

One of the hardest things was standing in lines at the movies waiting for snacks or at the grocery store or even the school office! People wouldn't notice me or they'd think I was with the adult next to me. I would wait forever until they noticed me or I'd just leave because I was too embarrassed to speak up. There was a time like this when I realized that people weren't going to change just for me! If I wanted to be noticed then I had to change. Whether that meant using my voice or spiking my hair, something had to change.

That's when I began to consider having my legs lengthened.

The summer between junior high and high school I remember some sort of transformation in my mind. I'm not sure entirely what happened but I became determined to have my legs lengthened. I was so tired of being so small in such a huge environment. I had anxiety about learning to drive, going to dances, getting a job, etc. I spent the summer at my brother's house in Connecticut when I said to my sister-in-law, "I want to have my legs lengthened, but I don't think mom and dad believe me." She came up with an idea. Oh and was it ever a great idea! We sat down together and made the list, "20 Reasons Why I Want to be TALL!"

I showed it to my parents when I returned to Idaho and then I mailed a copy to my doctor in Salt Lake City, who was also hesitant. I waited...and waited...and waited a whole TWO weeks for him to respond. And when he didn't? I sent another letter with, "20 More Reasons Why I Want to be TALL!" I had my parents convinced, but more importantly I had to convince the one man who could actually perform the operation. Within the week, he had sent his response.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

ONE YEAR!


 For Remi's ONE year birthday we had a strawberry theme, because she's our little shortcake! She loved everything, except the cake. Apparently, she's not really a cake fan. Luckily, we had lots of other goodies for her.
 Remi you are all smiles, all the time. You make everyone smile! Your still as petite as ever, with the mushiest chub roles ever! I love your sweet laugh and your crazy flexibility. I'm not sure why, but you prefer your daddy over me any day! You love dogs and puppies. You still do the army crawl, but will occasionally get into crawling position. You pull yourself up to things and stand and walk around them very slowly. You love other babies! Your hair has started to grow out in back a little and you have the sweetest ringlets. Baths are your absolute favorite thing in the world! If you get anywhere near the bathroom you get really excited and sign, "More" over and over until I put you in the tub. And for some strange reason, you love to watch, "Phineas and Ferb." Which I'm certain is completely age appropriate for you...not! But it's your favorite and you'll sit there through an entire episode without even budging. You are the only one who can wake your daddy up with a smile and you have managed to get everything you want from your big brothers. The cutest and my most favorite thing about you are your dancing skills! I have no idea how you've learned the moves you have (because you certainly didn't get them from your dad or me) but you sure can shake it and bop it. I will play Taylor Swift all day long if it means I get to watch you dance! I love you sweet Remi Jean! You sure do make us happy!..

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Living life to the fullest

Wow! Has your summer just blown by? Our's has been crazy! But things seem to winding down a little now. Birthdays are officially done. Reunions are done. Primary is done. I can slowly feel our life of routine creeping up on me. School starts in a couple of weeks. Which means back to sewing and work and early bedtimes (thank heavens)! But we have just a few more summer days ahead and we will be spending them basking in the sun, eating sno cones, and cleaning up this disaster that we call home! I'm not sure whats happened around here, but this house is a mess!

I have photos of all the kid's birthdays to share, but I don't think that will be happening anytime before September hits...I can never seem to find my camera! So I'll leave you with a fun photo of my latest Poppins bag. And by "fun photo" I mean "instagram" photo. :) Which btw, I am @tinyseamstress if you're interested in becoming one of my 40-some followers. My sneek peaks are always shown there first.


 This beauty has been making it's way around the country and I'm so happy that people are enjoying the pattern as much as I am. I have another surprise coming soon! It's a fun and simple pattern that's being photographed as we speak and will hit stores this fall. Yay!
But for now, enjoy this amazing sunshine and be safe!

Hugs and stitches!

Monday, June 18, 2012

11 Months


Remi, I'm not sure how we got all the way to 11, almost 12 months!?! You have grown up right before my very eyes. This month was a big one for milestones. You have learned your way around the house with your "army" crawl and sometimes I can't find you. Like today! One minute you were in the sewing room and the next minute you were in the living room crawling through the boy's tunnel. Seriously, the cutest thing ever!


 You started signing this month. The first sign you made was for "more" when you saw Roni eating a candy bar and then you did it again later that night in the bathtub when you wanted me to turn the water on. You also sign "daddy" and you say, "da-da" all the time and I am "na-na". You've caught on to clapping when you're excited, rather than just when we're doing pat-a-cake. You nod your head for "yes" and "no". And my favorite is just this last week when you started dancing to music. You wiggle your body and bop your head.

People always stop to play with you and talk to you in public and you just hide your head in our shoulders and act super shy.


You are eating a lot these days. Which is good, maybe we can jump to the 15% this month. ;) You love watermelon and canteloup and squash and all things fruits and veggies, except for strawberries. You just spit those out. And when you want something you've learned to crawl to my feet and grab them (and once you bit me!). You are super flexible and can bend your body from back to front with out bending your legs. When you don't get what you want you throw yourself on the floor and cry and then we laugh cause you're just so darn cute!

I seriously can't believe that you are almost ONE! I have loved these past 11 months more than anything. You and your brothers are the best thing that have ever happened to me and your daddy! We love you so, so much shortcake!

Monday, May 21, 2012

10 Months!

 Really? This just can't be true! My sweet little baby is growing so so fast! Rem, you have become persistant in the things that you want (like ice cream...my fault). You light up any room with your cheesy grin and scrunched up nose. You still love that daddy of yours and only say, "da-da" never ever "mama". But that's ok. And you're light as a feather, making my life a whole lot easier with these giant boys of ours.
 You love all things shiny (you get that from your Grandma K) and will chomp my necklaces all day long. You think you're really funny when you rip your hairbows into pieces and sometimes you pull your own hair. Your hair is slowly growing and it looks like you might get a few curls in back! Eeek!

You're very patient with me when I paint your toe nails and you've been a pretty good teether. You have 3 teeth in and 5 more on their way...poor thing.
You are waving hello and goodbye. You give wonderful big wet kisses and BIG snuggles (but only to mom and dad).

 You still tease your brothers endlessly and they already know to just surrender whatever toy they have. You love sitting in your bumbo and watching me sew and sometimes I let you sit on my lap, that's your favorite!

We've tried to get you to crawl, but you seem content with your army crawl and rolling. You somehow manage to find your way around. For example, in the photo below Sawyer just pulled out his transformers and you were on a mission to get them!
I love you sweet baby girl! You are the prettiest little thing to ever come into my life! xoxo