DIY Chalkboard

Long before Tyson was even a brief thought in our minds, this blog was primarily about our lives, our house and my decorating projects. It took me a long time (18+ months or so), but I finally have the DIY bug back. It's certainly not for lack of trying or good intentions, though. I have approximately 10 projects currently going in various states of completion.

So, here's one that I actually finished!

It started out as a print of a ballerina in a frame that I found at Goodwill for $15. I wouldn't normally pay that much for just a frame, but I kept going back to it thinking it would be perfect for something.



I cleaned it up pretty well and painted it with 2 coats of chalkboard paint. I ordered the vinyl "Menu" from an Etsy seller for $3. I orginally thought I would paint or distress the frame a bit, but once I was finished, I realized it had enough distressing of its own. It was already a creamy yellow that would work well against our cream beadboard backsplash.

The final product:



I was a little concerned that the chalkboard part wouldn't actually work because of the material of the original print. It was kind of a cardboard material, but it works!

I was a busy girl working on 2 different projects tonight, so I'll hopefully have at least one of those to share soon!

Holiday Cards!

Is it already that time of year? I have been thinking about designing our holiday cards for nearly a month now. I’m just anxious to get our pictures back from our photographer to make it official. Last year, we used Shutterfly.com and ordered the flat cardstock Fa La La card. With one Christmas-y photo that I took of Tyson, the cards turned out better than we could have imagined. We loved them and we received loads of compliments on the card we sent out last year. So, how do we top it for this year?

First off, I need to make some decisions. I think I have it narrowed down to a few options. I definitely prefer the flat cardstock cards as opposed to some other options. I prefer simpler designs and Shutterfly has plenty of them. So far, I’m thinking of either the Pretty Poinsettia Print card or the Bright and Merry card. Or, maybe the Scrapbook Style Blue card. Such a hard decision to make! For our friends and family, you’ll just have to wait and see which one we decide to use. Happy (early) Holidays!

If you're a Blogger and you want to win 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly, sign up here.

18 Months

Enjoying the last few warm days of fall:

Poor, sick baby:

Dear Tyson-

Only 6 monts until your second birthday? Time must slow down soon. You have a pretty nasty cold right now, but we're getting through it. You continue to be a total joy in our lives. You have the best attitude, nearly always happy and smiling. Of course there are moments when you're tired, sick or your teeth hurt, but we're lucky that they are few and far between.

Despite our best efforts, you still have a very limited diet. Brooke tried for eight days straight to get you to try (even once) a vegetable, but you refused. Mama is okay with you not liking certain foods, but you don't even try them first. Maybe some day. This month, you have liked to have cereal snacks with mama, sitting on the stool at the counter. You're still not steady enough to do it completely by yourself (they are backless stools after all), but you do a great job and look like such a big boy while you're at it.

Mama and Daddy are so impressed with how much you say now. I think the number of words has to be at least 20 or more now. You've started repeating what we say, good or bad. While you played football with Daddy, he taught you how to say fumble!, but in your voice sounds more like bumble! You are still loving to watch football and each time it's on, you grab your own small football and throw it or kick it around the room. Daddy is ready to sign your NFL contract as a kicker or punter.

We love you so much and continue to be amazed by you each and every day. Love, Mama and Daddy

30 Days of Thanks

I so meant to start this on November 1, but somehow I failed to actually get around to it.

#27: I am thankful for a giveaway on the Southern Hospitality blog. I've been a huge fan of Rhoda for a while and a new lens for my camera would be fabulous!

#28: I am thankful my husband made it home from another business trip safely and that Tyson was kind to his mama while Daddy was away.

#29: I am thankful to live in a country where we can vote in peace. Even if we may not be happy with the outcome of the election, we still have the right to vote.

#30: I am thankful for a new month and a lovely holiday season to look forward to.

Happy Halloween!

Even though we're not Star Wars fans (I'm sure to my brother's dismay), Ryan and I decided months before Halloween that Tyson would be Yoda this year. Doesn't he make a perfect one?

We had a great Halloween weekend! A party with some of mama and Tyson's friends...lots of little kids around his age, dinner with Grandma and Grandpa H, Aunt Jaime and Uncle Reggie and new baby cousin Morgan made for a busy Saturday. On Sunday, we had a cookout with our neighbors before the trick-or-treating started. We decided that Tyson wouldn't trick-or-treat this year, but he had a blast handing out candy to all of the kids.

Love the little Master Yoda!

16 and 17 months

It's hard to believe I've gone over a month without a blog post. Sorry family and friends!

Dear Tyson-

You just turned 17 months old and you've changed so much in the past 2 months. You have finally started watching the television. Your favorite shows so far seem to be football (any game, it doesn't matter) and the Wheel of Fortune. Your Great Grandma B sure is proud of that one! Whenever you see football or the Wheel, you instantly start clapping. You even know what to do when someone yells "touchdown!".

When it comes to understanding us and talking, we are constantly amazed by just how much you understand. You have started saying so many more words these past two months. I don't know if we're at the word explosion everyone talks about yet, but you can say so much and most of it is decipherable. You still say Daddy all the time, but you say Mama or Mum with some regularity too. Down, done, boom, uh-oh, whoa, den (again) are all words we can understand. You try to say dog (da), milk (ma) and I think you are trying to say up, but I'm not quite sure.

You know how to give big hugs and kisses, high fives and fist bumps. Although times can be difficult with temper tantrums, Mama and Daddy adore being around you. Your eating habits are pretty much the same and I wish they would get better. We keep trying to get you eat different foods and you keep refusing. Right now, some of your favorite foods are grapes and canned peaches.

Books have always been a favorite of yours, but recently they have become an obsession. We read the same books over and over again because you love them so much. Everytime you want to hear a book again, you hand it to us and we ask again? and you tell us den! I think the books are just making you that much smarter. You can point to many of your major body parts when we ask. You know nose, eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, head, belly, toes and feet.

I think sometime over the last few months you have turned into more of a little boy and less of a baby. You even decided to give up your pacifier on your own. Mama is thrilled to not have to wean you from it, but it sure makes naptime a little more complicated. You just can't seem to get calmed down for your nap and the paci certainly helped!

We just love watching you learn and grow everyday. Love, Mama and Daddy

First haircut

I finally caved and agreed with Ryan that Tyson should get his first haircut. We had been discussing it for some time, but I like(d) his hair longer. Besides, it was all of his baby hair and a haircut would make him look too grown up.

My realization came as we were walking around the Marshmallow Festival in Ligonier, Indiana this past weekend. With his mullet hanging over the top of the Ergo, he fit in a little too well with the folks at the festival and I decided it was time for the big cut. No offense to the fine people of Ligonier, Indiana.

Where better to have his first haircut than the vintage barber shop where Ryan's Uncle Steve works? Uncle Steve gave Ryan all of his haircuts as a kid and he has memories of spending Saturday mornings at this shop with his dad and brother. The actual space has changed since Ryan was a kid, but evidently, they recreated the same atmosphere in their "newer" location. Same barber chairs, same floor, same number stand, etc.

A before shot of his long, luscious (albeit somewhat mullet-esque) locks:


Tyson and Grandpa being silly in their lighted glasses.

He was not content to sit by himself on the booster, so he sat on Daddy's lap the entire time. Getting ready for the cut:

He did great! No crying and only minimal wiggling. It's a good thing that we had snacks on hand, because they kept him quite content.

Look at that long, sweet baby hair.

Whatcha lookin' at?

Getting close to being done, but first, more snacks!

hellooo mama.

This face was directed at Grandma. Who knows what kind of silliness she was saying at the moment, but he was not impressed. Just give me my snacks!

The final trims. . .

And ta-da! No longer a baby. Doesn't he look so grown up all of a sudden? Grandma kept saying that she would just tape all of his hair back on his little head.

Still in need of snacks.

A certificate makes the event official. :)