moments in the mommyhood - we made it out of the house!

we've made it out of the house! yep, that's right! i finally ventured out into the big, bad world all on my own with the two girls. yay for me! albeit it wasn't far...ok, it was literally a 5 minute drive, but i was early and relatively no chaos happened during the preparation for it if you don't count spilling coffee all over an outfit that took me half an hour to find, that somewhat covered my "overhang". darn it. but i recovered, changed and we had a great play date with two great friends and their kids. i got spoiled and they had a little bday celebration for me. so all in all, it felt great to get out of my house :)


harper has been doing great! she's such a good baby. i can't resist bragging a bit because my first baby was a bad sleeper, but harper slept from 9:45 till 5:45 on thursday night!!!! *&*&!! holy cow! we've had a few long sleeps at night now, but that was the record breaker. now to get her to do that every night! she is 6 1/2 weeks now and i'm guessing weighs about 12 pounds give or take.


people have been telling me not to be shy and to not avoid putting my pic up with the baby, so here ya go. a nasty ol'photo of sickie ol'me. i am not vampire white anymore, but my hair is still a mess and i am sans makeup, so please avert your eyes if it is too much a of a shock! i need my hairdresser to come rescue me!


all in all we are surviving. routines are being made, some sleep is getting slept, my laundry doing has been exceptional (one load a day!!!), dishes are clean, i sometimes get a shower, toys sometimes get put away, baths are given, diapers changed, princess dress up done, and a whole lot of fun is being had...ok, when there isn't crying and tantrums, but on the most part we are having fun with this new adventure into functioning as a family of four.

ohhhh, and i better not forget...the winner of our stella & dot giveaway is......

Kristin said...

I've always wanted a Stella & Dot piece, but I guess my daughter could have one first! kelgeeinaz(at)aol.com

congratulations kristin!!!! julie will be in touch with you in regards to your prize!!!

how is your week? any of you adjusting to a new family arrangement? about to have the 2nd baby and nervous? anyone willing to tell me where the heck the month of june has gone???? leave a comment below, or vent, or say hi....whatever floats your boat - i just luv hearing from ya!

all images copyright luvinthemommyhood

Vintage Alphabet Crib Refashion Tutorial with Guests - Kirstin & Jordan from "Kojo Designs"

if you're looking for a ton of fun & easy sewing tutorials, lovely party details, and crafty decor projects "kojo designs" is a blog to check out! these two talented and pretty sisters are sure to inspire you and get you crafting, sewing or just taking some photos.


they don't just blog though. they are also parents, wives and they run an etsy shop of the same name where you can find everything from custom stationery sets, wedding invitations to shoe accessories! these two sisters have a passion for paper....lots of lovelies to be found!


so go browse, say hi, grab a cup of coffee while the littlies nap and get lost in "kojo designs". a big thank you to kirstin, who, at the moment is preggers with baby #2 due in august. thanks for taking time to do this tute even though you are very pregnant. i send lots of good birthing vibes your way and of course, good toddler behaviour ones too! i'm always here for ya when you need to vent :)


now let's hear from kirsten & jordan.....

Hello there from kojodesigns! We were so excited when Shannon asked us to be a part of Babyhood Bonanza... We've been loving all of the fantastic tutorials (our to-make list just keeps getting longer and longer with each installment!) and are thrilled to be a part of welcoming Miss Harper with a whole lot of baby goodness.

Depending on when you asked, or who you sat down with on a given day (and especially depending on how ornery Keadryn, Sayla or Burke were being on that day), you'd probably get the whole gamut of commentary from the two of us on the role of being a mom. Part of that broad range is Jordan's experience as a mom of girls, as well as a mama-of-two (Keadryn is 3 years old and Sayla's 1 and a half) and Kirstin's current setup as mom to Burke (who is 2 years old and about to be joined by Peanut #2 in August). But possibly more influential in our ever-changing perspective on being a mom is the oh-so-diverse nature of motherhood itself. It seems that being a mama brings out the worst and the best, an entire range of emotions (including ones you didn't know you had), the most tender and precious of moments sprinkled with the greatest frustrations, times when things seem calm and settled, and new levels of chaos. It's a wild ride, isn't it? And one we wouldn't trade for the world... even on the days when our reviews on motherhood might lean towards the less-than-sparkling.

With that in mind, when we found out that our youngest sister (Kedron) was pregnant and due just a couple months after Kirstin, we were thrilled beyond words. Not only will she be joining us in the aforementioned wild ride of mommy-ness, but think of all of the STUFF that accompanies this dive into the world of parenthood... STUFF for us to make! As the first order of business in the Stuff-To-Make category, Kedron and Patrick decided on "Vintage Alphabet" as their nursery theme and found some fabulous vintage-y, Japanese fabric to complete their vision. Our job? Craft a crib bumper, crib skirt, and other coordinated nursery decor. First up? The crib bumper!

Though we've used the nursery patterns from Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones before (and with great success), we decided to branch out and try something new this time- refashioning an existing crib bumper. We didn't know this going in, but it turns out to be a fairly low maintenance project, and with gorgeous results.... Care to join us? Today, at the kojodesigns blog, we'll share our first installment of this loveliness- their now-finished, refashioned crib bumper (with a tutorial for those of you who'd like to try your hand at refashioning a crib bumper of your own).

Thanks again for having us, Shannon, and congratulations! Give that baby (well, both of your babies, really) some love for us...


more fun to come this week.....so stay tuned! what have you been working on?

all images copyright kojo designs

you've got one day left......

don't forget to enter our stella & dot giveaway - you've got till tomorrow night to enter!!!

make sure to scoop up some goodies for mom & babe during the giant "babyhood bonanza"Abby Sprouts!!!! sale over at
20% Off nearly everything for Baby and Mom until June 27th!

have a great weekend!!!

Itty Bitty Pants Tutorial with Guest - Christine from "From an Igloo"

i've been super excited to have fellow canadian christine, writer of the blog "from an igloo" over to the mommyhood! i spotted this talented ladies blog back in february, when she started it and i knew from that minute on that i would be a faithful subscriber. firstly because of her talent - you all know i love a cute sundress tutorial, and secondly, because us canadian girl's gotta support each other. i don't run into many of us in this big blogging community, so when i do get an email from someone, or find another canadian blogger i get super excited!


christine's blog isn't even a year old yet and wow has this momma been busy. she's a mother to 3 kids - 6, 4 & 2. wowsa! and she's been giving us a whack load of my fave tutorials of the moment since then! i didn't get a lot of chances to sew during my pregnancy but i sure made time to make her "one hour sundress".

here's my version....


a giant thank you to christine, who put this together even though she was having one of those bad "motherhood" days (and you ladies all know what i'm talking about). i hope you're having a better one today hun! big hugs to you and thanks again! you guys pop over and say hi and cheer this super sewer up! give her a big canadian hello!

now let's hear from christine.......

Hi everyone! :) My name is Christine and I'm so happy to be here today on Luvinthemommyhood! I love this blog and it will always have a special place in my blogging heart. Shannon was the very first blogger to reach out to me when I started my own blog and I feel fortunate to have met such a sweet person! Congratulations again on your sweet baby girl Shannon! She needs to post more pictures of that precious baby, don't you think? I can't get enough!

Motherhood has changed me in more ways than I can count. The minute our first was born I was so overcome with emotion. Up to that point I thought I had experienced love, but the love I felt for that tiny baby that I had only known for 30 seconds surpassed anything I had ever felt in my life. I still remember that moment and how amazing it was. Then, I was fortunate enough to do it two more times!

I'm a mom of 3 and we had all 3 of our children in 3 1/2 years. In the beginning I think I was pretty close to losing my mind (then again I still feel like that some days). Our youngest is 2 1/2, so now that the kids are a little older things are getting a little easier in some respects. Most days now I do get to shower and every once in awhile I get 4 hrs of sleep in a row (so naive to think they would start sleeping at some point)!

The best mothering advice I can offer is to try not to sweat the small stuff. Our kids are not going to remember if there were dishes in the sink or crumbs under the kitchen table. They will remember baking cookies and having tea parties with their mama. I have to remind myself of this all the time! Sometimes the crumbs under the table seem really important!

Now, for what I have to share with you! :)
If any of you follow my blog you may remember the pattern and tutorial I put up last week for the "One Size Fits many" PJ Pants. For those new friends out there, this is what they look like... Perfect for appliques!

With a few alterations they will fit a chubby 6 mos up to a thin size 3.

Well, there aren't many things cuter than a cute little baby bum. My sister is expecting a baby boy soon and it got me thinking. How cute would it be for my new nephew to match his older cousin? I had lots of fun matching my two daughters when they were really little (and still do on occasion). My husband thinks its sick, but I can't help it! Anyway, how cute would these be in itty bitty newborn size?

This cute! I wish you could see them in person, they are just so small! For reference, the ones on the left are a small size 2! The newborn pair we will say are 0-3 months but I'm thinking more like 1-2 mos.

I hope you'll pop over to my blog to download the pattern for these itty bitty pants. I really need one of you to make a girly version with ruffles on the bum. I'm dying to make a pair myself! You'll also be able to find the "One Size Fits Many" version, possibly for big sister or brother if your kids are close together like mine.

Thank you for having me here today Shannon, I've loved being a part of the baby bonanza! Your photos make me ache for a new baby. Someone want to convince my husband we should have just one more? :)

what's our announcement????? have you been wondering what it is? and no, i am not pregnant again already!!! aiayaya! no way! the news is (insert small drum roll please) that i have decided to extend the "babyhood bonanza" until near the end of july!!!! yippeee!! the party has been so fun i figured why end it? we can all use more of these wonderful tutorials right? so stick around...the celebration has only just begun!!!

are you a canadian blogger? are there more of you out there? i would love to hear from you!

p.s. happy birthday dad!!!! hope you have a great day!

Ruffled Pillowcase Tote Tutorial with Guest - Alexis from "Lex"

inspiring tutorials + stylish clothing + oodles of talent = lex.

alexis, from the blog "lex" (formerly "my mama made it") and the etsy shop of the same name, is one of my favorite bloggers that i have had the pleasure of getting to know since i started luvinthemommyhood. i remember when i got a sweet email from her one day that led me to quickly pop over and check out her blog and i just knew that this lady was going somewhere - wow! she had literally just started blogging but i couldn't help featuring her on my blog, her stuff was just that good. the rest is history.

tutorials...........


alexis quickly went from superstar tutorials, posting more tutes than i have ever seen one woman with 2 kids and a hubs do, to designing and selling her own clothes. i'm so proud and happy for her. her line "lex" is now in stores and in a few weeks she will be doing her very first fashion show!!!! go alexis! needless to say i am super excited she's here sharing us a tute with one of her fave things - ruffles! this girl loves a pretty ruffle!

clothing line...........


thanks for taking the time out of your crazy schedule alexis, i appreciate it! and thank you for being your beautiful self and for inspiring & wowing me on a daily basis that one day i could actually make some of the stylish clothes you and your gorgeous girls are wearing.


now let's hear from alexis..........

I'm one of those mom's who feels like I can never have enough bags. I need them for the beach, swimming lessons, overnights, groceries, diaper bags, etc... I saw a really cute ruffled bag on someone and came up with this easy, cute, functional and 'green' bag!

You can throw in anything and you then throw the whole thing in the wash! Here's how!

And you're done!

we've had a busy week for the babyhood bonanza and it's not over yet....there's another fun tutorial and an announcement tomorrow so come say hi!!!!!!

Stella & Dot Giveaway!!!!

*the giveaway is now closed*

got a thing for jewelry? of course we do!!! who doesn't love a little jewelry! and who doesn't love some cutie pie pieces for our little girls in our lives? julie from the super stylish line of jewelry - stella & dot is offering up the "kristin pearl bracelet" for one lucky winner this week! stella & dot recently launched a "girl's" line to their already successful ladies one and i thought it would be a fun addition to the babyhood bonanza to win for those of you, who like me, have another older (girl) sibling at home when you bring that new baby back from the hospital. something to make them feel extra special!

"Stella & Dot is the modern home-based career that your mother never had. We’ve put the power of ecommerce, social networking and personal service behind an irresistible jewelry line. It’s the next big opportunity for our era. Think getting together with girlfriends, Lucky Magazine, Facebook and no glass ceiling in sight. Recognized in the New York Times and on the Today Show, its not only a big idea, it’s a smart business that actually works."

to enter the giveaway to win the girl's "kristin pearl bracelet" simply leave a comment below with your email address, yep, that's it. easy, peasy!!! *the giveaway ends Sunday, June 27th*

pretty, stylish lovelies for little girls..............


and for the ladies!


these celebrity coveted and editor adored styles from stella & dot are sure to bring a smile to any girls face - young or old :) julie is also offering the readers of "luvinthemommyhood" free shipping until the end of june on all jewelry - women or girls!

thanks julie!! pop on over to julie's page take a peek & spoil yourself.....i'm loving all the turqoise and white. bring on summer!!!!!

what's your fave piece?

we have a winner.......

jenny from the wonderful "southern institute for domestic arts and crafts" so sweetly did a giveaway last week for the nursing cover used in her tutorial. trust me when i say these things come in handy, i swear by mine and would be lost without out -mine's called a "hooter hider" though..hahaha - i love that name! so if you aren't the winner and you really want one, go try out her tutorial, i think they would be relatively simple to whip up :)


now on to the winner...............

Renae said...

Cute Zeke!
Great tutorial--now I won't have to figure out the dimensions myself.

renea - you're the winner!!! i'll get in touch with jenny and pass along your email and she'll contact you with the details. congrats! i hope you enjoy it!

coming up this week....another giveaway and a tutorial! let's keep the celebration going!