One Little Piggy, Two Little Piggies

Not toes!  In the event you are not on facebook or don't check it (MiM/Auntie Kellly!!)  here is a not-so-clear look at Abby's first piggies!   These are certainly very crooked since Abby was a squirmy wormy and not really interested in having her gorgeous hair styled. 

In honor of her being 14 months, she is also wearing her first 18 month size clothing.  I think it's almost time to move up.  Our little baby is growing up in nano seconds!

Today's Agenda

Being home with a 14 month old (yes, 14!) can be challenging, especially when the child is as active as Abby.  Here's what we did today:

• read books
• practiced flashed cards
• raced puppies down the hallway
• went to library hour 
• played baseball
• built a lego fort
• practiced our flash cards
• slept in the car for 15 minutes on the way home from library hour
• put together puzzles
• called everyone on our celly
• cleaned out our purse
• played with Abby's hair - I love the whale spout!
• read books
• practiced our flash cards
• raced our popper - she's getting the hang of it
• had a tea party
• ate some snacks
• and of course ate all my meals
• had a bath
• read more books

Do you know what's NOT on the list???? sleeping, napping of any acceptable length.  Actually, this has been our agenda all week.  Let's hope next week there are naps on this list.  Because it's NOT cool.  Not. Cool.  

I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby.I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby.I love Abby.I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby.I love Abby.I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby.I love Abby.I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby.I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby.I love Abby.I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby.I love Abby.I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby. I love Abby.I love Abby.I love Abby.

Nap time Deco Project

A display of shell postcards add some depth into our entryway.

Inspiration:  LL Bean Spring 2011 Home Catalog.  The staging in each shot is superb and this idea was featured over a headboard in a bedroom shot.  I added rows to take up more space and display more cards.

Cost:  Free!  I had the jute rope and I picked up the cards at the Swap Shop in the Cape dump ( I love this place!) and the clothes pins were inherited by by previous owner of the house.

Directions:  I measured the length of the wall and measured 6" in from each side.  On one side I started from the top and marked in 12" increments.  On the other side, I marked 6" from the top and then in increments of 12".  After nailing 1" nails in at each mark, I tied a knot at the top I strung the rope around each nail and knotting at the bottom.  Clothespin your postcards, artwork, etc where ever you want it!

Really, it took me less than nap time.  About 30 minutes from start to finish. 

Here's what Abby was doing:

Dream in Green :-)

Looks Like We Have Some Work to Do

Before viewing video, please read post from yesterday :-)

Fourteen hours later - here's what Abby has learned.

Obviously not much!  :-)

Abby's First Lesson in being Green

We're a green family.  No doubt about it.  We expect Abby to learn the same respect for our Mother Earth and civic duty to reduce, reuse, recycle, compost, etc.  After today's lesson in this area, I'm sure there won't be any confusion going forward.  Here's how it went down.  The last few days, I've been teaching Abby to throw away trash into the trash can.  She actually does pretty well understanding the request, walking to the trash can, opening and tossing the item away.  She also has a tendency to open the drawers as far as they can go (they have safety latches), reaching her small hand and retrieving all of the reusable bags she can get.  After a quick lesson on throwing away the milk top tab, I check the can and what did I find?  THREE REUSABLE BAGS.  Oh, Abby.  We had a pleasant conversation on what was trash (not a heck of a lot) and what can be recycled or composted.  Looks like I'll have to check the trash can periodically.  Here are some random pictures that certainly make you smile. 

Kitchen Before and After

Our kitchen and dining room are separated by the breakfast bar and I love the open configuration.  If you remember the theme of the house - pink- you'll see lots of it here.  The kitchen is on our To-Do (remodel in entirety) list for later, but in the meantime, we'll be installing a dishwasher that actually works in the very, very near future.  

Before - do you love the rooster on the door (barf!!)

Before

Dining Room After

Kitchen After

The bowl of junk in the middle of the breakfast bar is a reminder that a home is a home even with all its clutter.  I hate clutter and knick knacks, but realize that as long as it's organized, it works for us. Organized, as in, in a bowl or put away.  :-)

Usually when you move, you pack up all the dear and special items and give away or sell the rest.  This mug was a gift from a friend to commemorate my one month stay with her in San Diego.  On the inside it says 74 and Sunny.  Oh how I wish I lived there.  I drink my coffee from it every morning and usually have a quick moment of "ahhhh" and memory of our days on the beach.  This mug will go with me everywhere until I die :-)

Another special item I was excited to unpack.  This is a 16x20 framed picture of all of our wedding guests - minus one or two who may have been in the restroom.

I purchased this from a fellow vendor at a craft fair and it reminds me of where home is.  Crescent beach is just around the corner from us.  I've always said I wanted to live on the beach - well, around the corner will have to do for now. 

Happy New Year!

This past year truly has been an amazing year.  The Proctor family has been blessed to have our prayers answered.  We took a huge leap of faith in putting our condo in VT on the market in early March and 7 months later be in our new home in Maine.   The in between had mostly positive situations and just a few stressful moments.  Honestly, my expectations have been surpassed as I set myself up for being in Vermont at least another year.  The way the housing market was going and the speed of condos being sold in our development, the expectation was not far from the truth.  As I type this from our living room in our new home, with the wind gently moving the trees from the window, I realize good things do happen.  Especially if you hope, dream, work hard, and take those leaps of faith. 

To each and all of our friends, family and maybe just readers of the blog, The Proctor's wish each of you a Happy New Year!  One filled with joy, laughter, love, and prosperity.