What's Been Distracting Me...

Since I've been totally missing the last couple of months...here are a few snapshots of the sweet little guy who's been eating up all of my time.  Being a Mom is the most rewarding and overwhelming thing I have ever taken on, and having a husband stuck overseas for 6 months is an extra challenge.

Thank goodness for great friends and a strong internet connection :-)

  I really do love this little bug more than I ever thought possible....a total cliche, but the absolute truth!

(Every parent thinks their baby is the cutest, right?)

UnstampaBelles: Christmas

Hello everyone!  I've been VERY naughty lately and totally missed an entire month with the UnstampaBelles.  Yikes!  Things have been pretty crazy lately with Ciri deployed and my little guy needing lots and lots of time and energy.  Luckily, I've been able to travel to see friends and family quite a bit in the last two months and it looks like we have lots of fun trips ahead as well.  It really makes the time go quickly (hence missing all of November's challenge!!) to have people to see and places to be.

We are officially 1/3 of the way through this deployment and going strong!

To get myself a little more back on track, here is my card for the UnstampaBelles Challenge this month.  Since it's December (you're kidding, right?) We are showing off our Christmas works using, you guessed it, NO STAMPS :-)

For this card, I used die cuts for the J and Y and the O is actually a round Christmas sticker (from 2 years ago).  We went way back into the stash for that one :-)

Please swing on by the UnstampaBelles Challenge Blog and show us what you've got for Christmas!  We can't wait to see your creations and please remember, No Stamps :-)  Have fun and Merry Christmas!!!!

UnstampaBelles Challenge: Stitching

I can't believe it's October!!  Whoa...it will be the holidays before I can blink.  With hubby's deployment underway, I am really hoping the time cruises by as quickly as possible :-)

And since it's a new month, it's time for another fantastic challenge from the UnstampaBelles!  This month's challenge is to use Stitching in some way on your creation.  There is also a fantastic prize being offered from Blue Edge Crafts. Check it out!

or my take on this month's challenge, I used stitching in my banner as well as in the (pre-made) embellished cupcake sticker.  I also used a "celebrate" sticker for my sentiment.  

Please stop by the UnstampaBelles Challenge and show us your stitchy creation and remember...NO STAMPS :-)  Have fun!!!

Hearts Apart Photo Shoot

There is a really amazing organization called Hearts Apart, that offers free photo shoots for families with deploying members.  Since we had never had professional family pictures taken with our sweet little guy, I jumped at the opportunity.  Our photographer Becca, of Just Becca Photography in Goldsboro, was AMAZING.  So sweet and patient, even when our little man refused to give a smile.  I was shocked when she turned up with grinning photos of all of us.

I am dreading this next separation, but am thankful that we have such gorgeous photos to remind us of Daddy.  I've hung them up around the house, and Eli gets a HUGE grin when we walk past them and he can see himself and his Dad.  So cute :-)  Here are a few of my favs

Loving Daddy

Had to post these today :-)  We're getting ready for my husband's deployment very soon, so trying to get as many pictures of these two as I can!  Eli loves his daddy, and I never realized how much I loved my husband until I saw him as a dad :-)  Life is good!

UnstampaBelles: Using your Scraps

Hello!  This month, the ladies at the UnstampaBelles are showing us some really fun ways to use up pieces of your scraps or leftovers in your stash.  If you're like me, you have many little bits of paper that you can't seem to part with.  My scrap box is starting to take on a life of its own!!

For my little card, I reused the back part of a die cut piece of paper.  I actually used the stars on the colored side for the mobile in my little boy's room!  By using the blank white side, I was able to use little strips of colored paper to place behind it and create a new colored pattern.

Please stop by the UnstampaBelles Blog and check out what other fabulous creations the ladies have and to show us one of your own!!

UnstampaBelles: Paper Dress

This month, over at the UnstampaBelles Challenge, the ladies are showing us their takes on the Paper Dress challenge!  There are some really pretty and creative ideas, so please stop by and check them out :-)

My paper dress is made from page flags (from the office supply section at Target) and part of a paper flower that I cut apart.  My sentiment is a sticker since *remember* no stamps allowed :-)

So please stop on by the UnstampaBelles Challenge and show us your beautiful paper dresses!