New Uses for Old Shirts

Usually, when we have a t-shirt that is worn out or just isn't wanted anymore, I cut it up for rags. However, I have found several ways to make even better use of an old t-shirt!

There are lots of tutorials out there showing you how to turn a t-shirt into yoga-type capri pants. I used this tutorial, which was great except for the waistband instructions. I didn't understand what you were supposed to do with the waistband, and ended up finishing it my own way, adding elastic to the waistband so it fit better. I absolutely love these pants! They look better on than they do in the picture, and they are so comfy! Perfect for a lazy summer day.

After I made the black yoga pants, I planned to make another pair from another t-shirt Seth didn't need, but then stumbled across this tutorial for how to make a skirt from a t-shirt, so I thought I'd try that instead. It required me learning a new technique - shirring - which was a lot easier than it looks! I didn't do as many rows of shirring as is instructed in the tutorial, since the skirt was already a bit on the shorter side. The end result is super comfy and pretty cute, too! Definitely something I'll be making again!

Once I'd made my skirt, I followed another tutorial on the same site - for making a bib from the rest of the t-shirt! This was another quick and easy project, and I absolutely love it! This bib covers great and is easy on/off with no snaps or buttons! Even if you don't want to make the skirt, this bib is worth cutting up an old t-shirt for!

While rags are great, I'm thrilled to have some new resourceful ways to use an old t-shirt!

Three Weeks!

These past three weeks have flown by as we have been settling in, enjoying our sweet little baby, and slowly getting back to doing all of our normal stuff.

The older kids love little Ezra and take any opportunity to snuggle with him!

My little helper!

There is nothing as sweet as a brand new baby to cuddle.

And in the midst of having a new baby and getting back to normal life has been the fun, overwhelming, and crazy busy adventure of house hunting! Somehow, while searching for a new apartment, we came to the realization that we could purchase a house for the same (or less) cost as renting. We found one darling little house that sold just as we went to make an offer, which was very disappointing. So we have to believe that something else is out there for us - and we are hoping (and praying) that we will find it soon!

It's a Boy!!!

Ezra Dylan arrived early Saturday morning, just 16 minutes after arriving at the birth center! He is a beautiful and healthy little boy. He weighed 7 lbs, 13 oz., and was 20 1/4 inches long.

I had some complications after his birth that resulted in a trip to the ER (in an ambulance!), but we are home now and doing well. We are so thankful we have lots of family around - such a huge blessing that definitely lowered the stress that comes with an unexpected hospital stay!

Benjamin and Joanna spent a few days with grandparents and now that they're home, we're busy adjusting to being a family of five!

A Trip to the Museum

The first Thursday of the month is a free admission day to our local Natural History Museum, so we decided to check it out last night. Since dinosaurs are popular at our house, the dinosaur skeletons were pretty exciting!

A Shirt for Me

For some reason, I always seem to have a difficult time finding clothes that fit me well. When I was shopping for a few summer things last year, I found this shirt at Old Navy, and although it was a little more than I typically pay for clothes, I bought it because I liked it.

I am so glad I did! This shirt was a staple in my wardrobe last summer - and will be this year as well. It's really lightweight, so it layered well even in the summer, and it's loose and flowey, which was really nice after having a baby, and was helpful for nursing as well. I wore it a lot last summer, and I was just thinking the other day that it would be nice to have another shirt like it.

(From last summer - I can hardly remember when Joanna was this little)

So, I thought I'd try to make one. I measured the original the best I could (a little difficult because of the gathers), and tried to make one the same size. I did alter the top front of the shirt - straight across instead of a "v" shape - to make it simpler to put together. I used a calico, which is a bit heavier than the material on the original, but I'm hoping it will still have a similar fit and look.

I like the way it turned out - and I'm excited to have a couple of options with this shirt (and at a much cheaper price - mine only cost a couple of dollars for the yard of fabric!).

A little more time...

With just a couple more days until the baby's due date, it's getting harder and harder for me to be patient - I'm so ready to meet this baby! But since it's not going to come on my schedule, I'm really trying to just savor each day that I have left, to appreciate having just a little more time...

...time to prepare for busy days ahead by making more food to have on hand. Such as the double batch of granola bars in my cupboard, two lasagnas and four jars of strawberry jam in the freezer, and cupboards full of food thanks to my beginning-of-the-month grocery shopping!

...time to do a little summer sewing, such as this light jacket for Joanna - made easy by tracing an existing jacket, and keeping the sleeves attached!

...time to enjoy just a few more days of just having two little people to focus on and care for.