I did it!

Well, I decided yesterday afternoon that it was the day to do a braid/bead hairdo for the little one yesterday. She picked out butterfly beads. She was a trooper during the whole process.

She actually fell asleep while I braided the back part. We had to take a break and then she sat on daddy's lap so I could braid the ponytails in the front. I got them all done except 1...she had enough at that point, so I had to finish when she fell asleep at night.

I have to find the right product to help smooth her hair out-it is quite frizzy this morning even after using a sleep cap. After doing her hair and using the beads, I have decided that we are probably going to place another order on braids and fun stuff...so many possibilities :)

A whole new experience

So, it is no secret that my husband and I adopted 3 children of a different race than us. Many of days around the kitchen table there have been debates on what shade of brown we are. The discussion usually ends with the fact that we are all different shades and are special just the way we are.

Not only is shades of skin in our home a very normal conversation...hair is another topic. I have done the best I could with my little ones hair, however, I recently had a "duh moment" and started looking for blogs on taking care of African American hair. My son's hair is not difficult-take him to the barber and have them trim and shape him up as they see fit. The brush it out everyday.

My dear T-her hair is more like ours, however, she does need lots of conditioning. I think I have hers pretty much figured out. There are days when it looks like a rats nest and I have to throw my hands up in the hair in frustration.

My poor little one has had me stumped for, well, really since we got her. When we got her at 5 days old, her hair was so soft and oh so curly...I had wished it would stay that way forever. It didn't. She has some major 4c hair(didn't know what that meant until I got help from blog land)...I have been doing it all wrong. I knew the basics...don't over wash, use wide tooth comb, condition, moisturize, etc. After finding a couple of very helpful blogs with mom's in the same situation as me, I have gained so many helpful tips already. Some of things they tell you to do, I think to myself...what a dummy I am. Basics like just putting conditioner & water in a spray bottle together to use as a detangler...it works AMAZING. WAY better than the stuff you buy in the store. The other tip I learned...again, seriously made me feel dumb-was instead of using a brush/comb for detangling-use my hands...um...seriously?!?! I have 2 of them...they are free...and get this...IT WORKS! Go figure! So just using those 2 tips have already made hair care for the little one's so much better. She used to run away screaming when I got the basket of hair stuff down to start on her hair. Not now. I still have a loooong way to go. Apparently I need a routine. Apparently I need basic products instead of the craziness I have been buying. Apparently there are lots of fun accessories you can buy...placed an order yesterday and can't WAIT for them to come in the mail. Beads galore and little clippies...oh my!

I would love to learn how to cornrow-not sure that will be happening anytime soon-but I can do a basic braid and saw some cute styles that use those and beads-so I am excited to get started. The parting aspect of it has me overwhelmed...but I'm sure we'll figure something out.

I don't know if anyone out there that follows my blog has a use for these...but here are some blogs/webpages that have been VERY helpful!

http://www.curlyiscuter.com/index.html
http://www.chocolatehairvanillacare.com/
http://beadsbraidsbeyond.blogspot.com/

Once a Tiger-Now a Wolf

My son had his Crossover ceremony a couple of weeks ago for Cub Scouts. He moved up from a Tiger Cub to a Wolf Cub. I am so proud of him for achieving the goals that were set for him in order to move up. Memorization and things are not the easiest for him, and although he did get very frustrated, he did it!

Crossing over the bridge the Boy Scouts made for them.

After he was given his new neckerchief.

The girls needed it to be known that they were there too!

Organizing

I started organizing my fabric scraps by color...anything that is a fat quarter or 1/4 of a yard or less gets thrown in a container. The trouble is, I only got 4 containers when I was at the store, so my orange, blue, green, and reds are organized...I will slowly have to seperate out the rest as I get more.

Finish

This quilt has been finished for awhile now...just now getting to put it up...don't you just love my "helper?" Precious, isn't she?! This quilt is almost king size, I believe. I don't love it...it is one that my aunt's and cousin's all made 1 year over Memorial Day weekend many years ago. I am just excited to have it off the UFO pile!

Neck Update

I meant to attach this to one of the other post I did since yesterday, but forgot.

3 weeks ago, I had to have my dad drive me to the ER for my pain. I sat in church and was in horrific pain...which was causing me to get a migraine. I came home and called my dad to drive me there (so my husband could stay home with the kids). Well, 7 hours later, they told me that it was just a pulled muscle. They gave me some pretty good drugs there, and was pretty loopy when I got out to the waiting room to my dad. He sent me home with a prescription for a muscle relaxer. Anyway...that was then...today I have officially been pain free in my neck for a week now...so exciting. That was the worst pain I had felt in awhile. It is nice to not have to wake up and quickly get my meds in me to be able to even function. So today, I am thankful for pain-free days!

Picnic Quilt

I finally started working on the picnic quilt I had blogged about back in November. I love the way it is going so far...I have 4 rows sewn together, another one ready to add, and then 19 more rows to put together...still quite a ways, but it is a really easy quilt to piece. The most time consuming part is figuring out where to place each fruit or veggie :) It is lots fun...especially when my little one wants to get her helping hands in there too!