Mikaela talking . . .

~ Mrs. Arcfide

Ear-cleaning, anyone?

~ Mrs. Arcfide

3 years

Picture taken at midnight, 7/6/2011.

Since the pictures from our nice,
romantic dinner at Sweet Grass didn't quite turn out. ;)

♥ .I love him more. ♥

~ Mrs. Arcfide

My 4th of July

This year, we celebrated my second 4th of July at my Great-grands' home.
They always give me a Grand time!
Ooma played Patty-cakes with me and made me laugh.

Oompa gave me a little flag, and led me in our mini-parade.

Daddy stuck the flag in my hair!

Me and Daddy, by the pool.

He took me swimming.

After dinner, we went to the park with our cousins
to listen to a band and watch some fireworks.

The music was LOUD . . .

. . . and so were the fireworks. But, I wasn't even a little bit afraid.
When daddy tried to cover my ears, I wriggled out of his arms.

I'd rather watch the fireworks on my back, like this.
Yes, glow sticks and all. :)

I hope you had a Happy 4th ~ be sure to let me know if you enjoyed my guest post!

Love,
Mikaela

Baby Shower Gift Idea ~ The Diaper Cake

Earlier this summer, a perfect opportunity presented itself for me to make what I've been wanting to try my hand at for awhile - a diaper cake!

Diaper-cakes have always fascinated me, from the very first time I laid my eyes on them. They are so unique at baby showers, and which mom-to-be wouldn't love having her nursery stocked with diapers? ;)

I found this tutorial on youtube particularly helpful, but I am sure there are many other similar tutorials you can find online. The nicest thing about a creative project like this is that you don't have to use exactly the same supplies someone else tells you to. For instance, this tutorial suggested using an empty milk bottle in the core of the cake, but I used a bottle of sparkling juice and a plastic bib (to extend the height of the cake) instead. So long you have the basic concept about tying individual diapers in rubber bands and surrounding the core of the cake with them, your options are limited only by your creativity.

Basic supplies I used:
3 packs of diapers (in Size 1 and 2)
Cardboard for base of cake
1 bottle of sparkling juice
1 plastic bib
Large Rubber bands
Hair rubber bands around each diaper (so the mom can re-use them later!)

I decorated the cake with:
3 rolls of ribbon
flowers
hair bows
3 stuffed animals
1 rattle
shoes
bath supplies (travel size)
2 onesies
2 pacifiers
foam stickers

My cake turned out taller than I'd initially anticipated, because I purchased more diapers than I thought I would need. Better too many than too few, right? ;)

My mother-in-law, with whom I consulted on this project, suggested I use them all by fanning an extra layer of diapers in between two tiers of the cake, to break up the monotony.

The best thing about having made this diaper cake?
Seeing my cousin's face light up in a smile when my husband brought it in. :)

~ Mrs. Arcfide