Trip to Arkansas

So I promised to write more about our trip to Arkansas for Mother's Day. It was SO wonderful. I really miss Molly because she lives so far away, I don't see her much. She is one of my dearest friends from college and I just cherish spending time with her. She also gets along splendidly with Matt (basically she laughs at all of his jokes and means it!), which makes it that much more enjoyable to spend time with her. Pictorial evidence...

Yes they are playing with deer antlers at the Nature Center!!

I was so honored last year after Joshua was born when she asked me to be his godmother. I have a wonderful relationship with my own godmother, and I so look forward to the special relationship that Joshua and I will have. Matt asked if he is the godfather, since I am the godmother, and I informed him that he got the job by default! Until this weekend, he argued that he never signed on to it, so he can't be held responsible. He's not arguing anymore, Joshua and Matt are big buddies now... case in point.


























Molly cooked some WONDERFUL food for us (I learned how to make Chinese dumplings from scratch). We had fun really just hanging out. There were a couple of older ladies in the grocery store (Matt went on a run while we went out) that were fishing to see if Joshua had 2 mommies (I think it's my new glasses plus the short hair)!!! I'm always flattered to be mistaken for "family"!


We had a great time Saturday at the Crowley's Ridge Nature Center, especially since it was FREE!!! Molly put on a great puppet show for us about a squirrel named "NuttBag". As you can see, Matt enjoyed the show as much as Joshua if not more! But most of the time we chilled at home and just caught up on life and played with Joshua.

He's really not terrified of me, REALLY!

Sunday was Joshua's baby dedication at Molly's church. It was wonderful to see her stand in front of her congregation of peers and promise to raise Joshua in a Christian home. I hope as his godparents we will set a Christian example for him as well.


It was a fabulous weekend, and I was still beaming even yesterday. I am looking forward to a (tentative) visit from Molly and Joshua in August!!!

our adorable godson Joshua

I will blog more about our wonderful weekend with Molly and Joshua. But for now, a couple of precious pictures of Joshua before his dedication.

Precious treasures, the old becomes new

I've been doing a lot of sewing lately, and most of it has remained unblogged-about. But this project is very special. It's been in the works for months now (talking, searching for pattern and materials). Our godson Joshua's baby dedication ceremony is this weekend (they do it once a year on Mother's Day at Molly's church). Baby dedication is similar to Christening, except without the water. The family of the child stands in front of the congregation and promises to raise the child in the church.

When I first started searching for patterns and thinking about this project, I realized that it has been over 8 years since I've done any "heirloom" sewing. I've made lots of other things, cutesy stuff. But heirloom sewing is what I truly love, not just because the items are so beautiful, but also because it is becoming a lost art and not many people can do it (especially in my generation).

I became increasingly excited when I started gathering the materials. One reason this is so special is that I was able to use leftover fabric Mom had from making my wedding dress to make Joshua's outfit (and I still have nearly 2.25 yards left!). When doing heirloom sewing, I try to use only the best, most authentic materials. I thought last week that I may need to purchase some vintage buttons for it as well. I went to the local antique store (BAD BAD JILL) in search of buttons. I came home with lots of antique linens and trims, but no buttons.

Then it dawned on me. I was the only one of the grandchildren in our family to learn to sew, so I got my Meme's sewing machine (it's one built into a cabinet). I've been putting off going through the drawers, but this gave me the perfect excuse! Last Saturday, I spent the first half of the day cleaning out, sorting and restoring one of two drawers in Meme's sewing machine. It was so cool to sort through all the things that she kept at arms length when she was sewing. I found her metal scissors with the handles painted black (thought the paint is all but gone now), TONS of vintage buttons still on the cards, little promotional item cards with needles attached from Liberty National Insurance, and my favorite - a welding rod. My Papaw was a welder/ ironworker by trade. Meme kept a welding rod in her sewing maching to help push out the corners of pieces when you turn them right-side-out for sewing. Just knowing that I was touching the things that she used to make every dress for her daughters and granddaughters, every Easter outfit for her grandchildren, every suit for church, and maybe even the veil Aunt Pam wore in her wedding that we later repurposed into my veil, was very special to me. These things that look like not much to anybody else, are treasures to me. Most people would open that drawer, pull out that welding rod, and say, "What is this and why is it in a sewing machine?"

Wouldn't you know, I found BOTH size buttons in the exact color that I needed in that drawer? I also used that welding rod a couple of times to make the little button belt in the back of the romper :) Without further ado, the final product. I will DEFINITELY post pictures of our precious godson in this outfit when we get back!!

Rubber Ducky, you're the one!!!

I just can't help but post this picture. This is our godson Joshua. He seems to really enjoy bathtime and his rubber ducky. How cute is he????