Holiday 2011

It's Christmas now and I can't sleep, not because I'll get lots of great things in the morning but because I want my children to be happy more than anything on Christmas Day. Yesterday my aunt Alice and her husband Tom came to visit from Pensacola.

They brought Izzy a beautiful baby doll cradle that Tom handmade and a volley ball and net for D. I'm not sure who was most excited but Izzy rocked various things: teddy bear, balls, sweater, jacket off and on all day. We ate ham and potato salad, cream style corn, green beans, and rolls for lunch. Sweet tea was perfect. I'll update late in the day when my brain is actually working with photos and more on Christmas day.

We actually made the gingerbread houses a few days earlier, but we did get them done despite the Florida humidity.

Christmas morning, presents from Santa.

Great-Grandmother Annie B. with three great girls.

The day after Christmas we ate another Christmas meal with Aunt Sherry and Uncle David. It was so delicious! Smoked turkey breast, broccoli cornbread, hashbrown casserole, green beans, mac and cheese.

Heirloom Pattern

The sewing forum that I hang out on, Sewing Mamas is having a vintage pattern sewing contest. I love to sew from patterns found at thrift stores and yard sales so this was the perfect first contest for me to enter.

I used McCall's 5914, Child's Sports Separates from 1961. It was designed by Helen Lee, marked as a size 2, and originally cost 50 cents.



I picked up the popsicle fabric with no particular project in mind but the yellow was supposed to be in a quilt I'm working on but I went with blue instead.



Originally I was going to make it plain but I must have been channeling Patsy Aiken because I embroidered Izzy's initials and put on two different ribbons onto the top.



The shorts were the hardest pants I have ever attempted. The pattern called for a 4" zipper on the side, but I decided to put pockets on both sides and elastic in the waistband.



The top went together quickly and I really like it. But next time I will probably make it longer as I'm not sure how Mr. K. will feel about the belly button look.



Instead of going my usual snaps I actually took the time to make button holes and hand sew on cute flower buttons.



And a final gratuitous adorable shot.

Hemoglobin Test Results

Happy news today as the nurse from Izzy's genetics doctor called us at about 4am to say our blood test (we all three had to be tested) for Russell Silver Syndrome came back normal! This means Izzy is all clear and there is no underlying genetic or medical reason (other than being born small for gestational age) for her to be so petite. Not only is this a big relief for me after two years of visiting many different doctors but it also means we can get command sponsorship for our stay here in Korea which brings added benefits and peace of mind.

Here she is just one day old with her big sister.