Create

It's been a while. Again.

I've been busy.

Crafting.

I love to craft.

 Pinterest is like crafting crack. 

You can find me HERE.

Ever since I joined last Fall, I have been crafting up a storm. The holidays were bad, or good depending on how you look at it.

I've always wanted to play with old furniture and turn it into something cool.

Pinterest was just the tip of the iceberg. I found this old wood boat storage curio thingy. I had found my first piece to play with. Now it's not a masterpiece by any means but it was so fun!!

So from there I went to town.  I painted chairs, picture frames, big frames, little frames and anything else I could find.  Mario actually said to me, "Are you going to paint anything else green"?  Even though I love them, there's only so many signs one can have. Since before this we had already purchased some beach and boats ones etc. I had to do something else with some of them.  For Valentines Day I made Mario a St. George Island sign.  Which is the island we got married on.  I bought a glue gun. Ok, no biggie right. Then I bought a sander.  A friend from Stella's preschool asked me to make a sign for her Grandparents. Her cousin bought some frames I had when I dropped off said sign and I'm having so much fun that a friend and I are going to do a craft show next month. We'll see but for now I have put some of the things I've done on Etsy. Some frames, signs, pillows, light switch covers, head bands, clips and whatever else I whip up. Check me out here at Stella by the Sea.

We're alive...

Yes, we are alive. Stella started preschool 2 days a week and gymnastics has started back up.  We've also been doing A LOT of projects. House and fun projects. We were in crafty overload over the holidays.  The other day we had some friends over and decorated heart cookies and made these snazzy little wands. We took a kitchen skewer and snipped the sharp ends off.  I sewed together 2 hearts out of felt with white yarn.  Then we stuffed it with some leftover pillow filler. You can have them put something else inside it, like glitter, before you close it up. Kinda like build a bear. But of course we forgot that part. :) Then I put craft glue on the stick and stuck it in the bottom of the heart where I had left a little space.  I rolled the wand in mod podge and Stella sprinkled it with glitter of her choice. :) Lastly, I tied a ribbon on held in place with a little glue. She loves it and has been "turning me into things" such as a carriage or fairy godmother all week.

Be back soon...lots to catch up on.

Baby you're amazing :)

Every night, as I'm tucking Stella in and leaving her room I say to her, "Good night Baby, Sleep good, Sleep tight, Sweet Dreams, I love you".

In the morning she calls to me, "Mama", Maaaaama"! I go pick her up, she drinks her milk and we cuddle in our bed as Mario is getting ready for work.  I love this time with her. She is mellow, affectionate, sweet & has yet to charge her battery up for the day.  I will always remember and cherish this time we have together.  It will always be special to me and it is probably my favorite part of the day.  I know soon enough it will be a rush to get ready for school and get out the door so I am drinking it in and enjoying it while we can have it. 

Yesterday when I went in to get her the first thing she said to me was "I wanna sleep tight in Mama's bed"! I think it is a special time for her too...

These are the moments I want to remember.  I know as she gets older I will wish for these moments back, even for a minute. I would give anything to feel her little arms around my neck hugging me oh so tightly.  I savor them, try to embed them in my head to always keep close to my heart.  I think sometimes about how there is no way anyone else can love their child this much. That no one can possibly understand. Other people of course must love their babies but not quite like this.  My heart that would hang the moon for this precious little girl. I know this is not true, I know most Moms love their children with this voracity and passion. I also know, some don't.  That, I will never understand. There are also some Moms that lose children or struggle with health issues.  My heart breaks for them. Carpe Diem, seize the day.  This doesn't mean you have to go out and do something big today. Enjoy every moment. When your patience is wearing thin or you have averted another disaster which would probably entail mopping or had to say no for the 12,000th time, think of 10 or 20 years down the road when you will wish for a beautiful little face to be tugging at your pant leg. I want to savor every precious moment because it is a gift. The best gift you can be given and I am so thankful for that.

Last night I was holding Stella, loving on her as I do every night for a bit after her books and before I lay her down, Mario came in to say goodnight. When she saw him walking through her door she outstretched her hand to him and brought him in to our hug.  As we stood there all hugging, with her head on my shoulder she said in the softest, sweetest voice, "I lub (love) you guys", followed by, "I love you Dada, I love you Mama, I love you guys".  Followed by a kiss for each of us. These are the moments.

I am a lucky lucky Mama.

Gotta go avert another disaster.  Stella has brought her potty chair/stool from the bathroom to the kitchen pantry and is trying to reach the chips. Carpe Diem. Sieze the day.

Please keep the Rudkin family in your thoughts, hearts & prayers.