Graffiti Stuff

I have been busy trying to get Graffiti out there more. It is really difficult; I'm not sure what else to do. I have created a facebook page, I tell everyone that I meet about it, I'm trying to get friends and family to spread the word, but it is still hard. I printed a bunch of flyers, but honestly I am not even sure where to post them, they will just get torn down, then it's a waste of money for me. I hung one on the bulletin board at our community hall, and one at grocery store (but they will only keep it up for a week), other than that I'm not sure where to go...suggestions???

I have had a few parties in the last few weeks, but it is proving difficult to get people to book parties, I'm not sure if it is because it is summer and people are just busy and want to be outside or what. I am also looking into trade shows, but wow are they ever expensive! I will just keep trying...

Here are a few pictures of things that I have made recently, and are for sale, so please let me know if you are interested in anything! Remember that I can ship across Canada and into the States!

Busy, Busy, Busy

I feel like I have been on the go non stop for a long time and summer is almost gone already, and yet I feel like I have done nothing!

I have been trying to get more things on the go with Graffiti. I've had a few parties, yesterday I went to a baby/kid sale that the organizer decided to have some business tables at as well. I don't really think it was the right "crowd" for my products. I guess that is the most polite way of putting it, if you know what I mean.

While I was inside the hall for the four hours doing my thing, someone stole the license plate right off my vehicle, then proceeded to use it in a gas and go! Of course it was Sunday so the registry office wasn't open so that was a pain in the ***! Thankfully someone at the craft sale had an old expired plate from one of their old vehicles; he ran home and got it so I could at least drive home and hopefully wouldn't get pulled over! Today I had to deal with that.

I have been looking at bringing Graffiti into farmers markets, trade shows and craft fairs, but it seems they are all so expensive! Come next month it looks like I will be pretty busy, I've already got three shows booked and a trade show. I am still looking for more leads though. I've created a facebook page, so it seems like that is starting to get the word out more too!

Makayla is now becoming quite the little girl. She is sure trying my patience, by pulling on cords, grabbing CD's, hitting me or spitting in my face. No matter how many times I say "NO" she laughs and does it again. She doesn't understand it isn't a game. I usually laugh right back at her; I know I shouldn't, but wow how can one resist!? She just figured out how to crawl last Thursday, right before Daddy went back to work so that's nice, so she is now into everything. I can't even go to the bathroom or load the dishwasher without wondering what she is up to. Also, I need to get a carpenter in here to figure out what we are going to do about a gate. We've got a nasty staircase with walls that just don't work for attaching a baby gate.

Anyway, I'm tired and need to get to bed, here are a few pictures of Makayla tonight.

Sleeping Soundly

Makayla would not go to sleep last night in her crib so I put her in the swing, and she drifted off...she is ever so sweet!

Favorite Photo Friday

She Can Crawl

Oh lord help us all! Makayla is a crawling machine! She has been trying to crawl for a long while now but she always ends up going backwards, then sitting up and that's about it. Well this morning she decided that she was going to get Cleo's toy (our cat) and off she went. As Clint was packing to go back to work tonight, he actually saw her first, then called me to come to the living room and watch. We moved the toy away from her, and off she went again! I'm so proud of her, but in the same time I wish she didn't figure it out because now she is into EVERYTHING and we need to get a baby gate! Gosh, she is growing too quickly! Soon she will be walking, going to school, driving and dating....I have to keep reminding myself not to think about this and just enjoy her now!

We Found A Dayhome

The search for a dayhome has really sucked! I have looked at 7 or 8 different homes and 1 daycare. It is actually REALLY scary to see some of these places where people bring their children. I'm not going to get into detail, but there is NO WAY that Makayla would EVER go to most of these! I am happy to announce that we have found one that we feel very good about! Actually we found two!

On Monday we went to one, it was ok but not great. Tuesday we went to three and we really liked two of them. The first one has been open for four years and we went during the day so we were able to see the lady interacting with the children and she was really good. She had an older house, but it had been well kept and renovated, a huge yard with a trampoline, swing set and many toys; they also had two dogs, a lab and a dachshund. The next one we saw was run like a military boot camp, it was awful! That's all I have to say about that! The third one, the one we chose, actually isn't even open yet. She will be opening in September (we don't need it until November), but she showed us around her house (brand new - they just got possession on June 28th) and it is beautiful. Of course because it is new there is no landscaping, but they have great plans of doing the yard and finishing the basement. For the time being she plans on having the kids upstairs in the bonus room (huge house) for most of the day. She is a 47 year old grandma of three who is actually an accountant right now. She is quitting that job to start up the dayhome. Her Hubby works for the city in the transportation department and has for 30 years. We met him as well and he seems great too! You can really tell that they love kids and will be a great fit for Makayla.

I actually called the references for both the first and third; of course the first one was parents of kids who go there now, and the third was personal references since it isn't even open yet. But either way I got a good feeling! When I called the first one to let her know that we had chose another dayhome, she was wonderful and even told me that if we need a backup plan or even need to drop Makayla off for a day here and there that she is more than willing to help us out! Now that is awesome!

Daddy Is Home

With Clint working away he misses a lot. I don't really think about it, cause I try not to as it's hard being the mom and dad all the time, and if I think about missing Clint or him missing us and the things that go on here it makes it even worse. So now that he is on days off it is fun to watch him doing all the little things...like feeding her, things that I don't even think about.

Silly Monkey

Makayla is getting stronger by the day! Today she was playing on her floor mat and decided to pull the entire thing over on herself! I was waiting for her to start screaming, instead she looked at me and started laughing. What a goof...

Favorite Photo Friday

We were watching a movie tonight and we happened to glance out the window to see this beautiful sunset and the most perfect rainbow going straight up and disappearing into the clouds, and it hadn't even been raining!

Bye Bye Boob; For Good This Time!

Makayla's Doctor recommended a few months ago that I start supplementing her with formula since she wasn't gaining weight at an "appropriate" rate with just breastfeeding. I started with feeding her a combination of boob and bottle, then slowly moved to feeing her formula all day and boob during the night and first thing in the morning, to now just formula!

Actually it was a combination of her not gaining weight and also having two teeth that made me stop breastfeeding all together! The last day I actually breastfed was July 28th! Makayla had already started to bite me REALLY hard and on the 28th she bite me just a little too hard! She had made me bleed prior to that day and it had been hurting, but this one time was hard enough to make it the last time!

I can honestly say I miss breastfeeding....is that weird? It just seems so different, like my baby doesn't "need" me anymore, and I find that she doesn't like to snuggle like she did before. Maybe it's just me....

First Goose Egg!

I know it is a first of many, but today Makayla got her first goose egg on her forehead! She can't crawl yet, but she can get up on her knees and the she try's to pull herself up on furniture. Well tonight we were over at my Dads house and Makayla was trying to do this, but my Dad has hardwood floors, so between pulling and turning to look at something she slipped and fell flat on her face! I know the picture isn't great, but it is there and it is pretty big! My poor baby girl!

Time For Another One.........??????

My friend Barb came over today for a visit and brought her new baby Zachery for us to see! Makayla seemed to enjoy kneeling infront of his carseat, "talking" and rocking him back and forth. Maybe she was trying to tell Mommy something.....

9 Months ALREADY

Wow, where the heck is the time going? 9 months! 9 months? How and why are my two questions.....how did it go by so quickly and WHY? My little baby girl is growing so quickly! I can't believe it! It seems like just yesterday we were trying to conceive you! I remember the moment we found out I was was pregnant; even though we were trying it came as a shock, since it was our FIRST try!

Pregnancy seemed to take forever and yet these next 9 months have absolutely flown by! It is so amazing to watch you grow and learn new things. Each day it seems like you are changing right before my eyes; wether it be your "funny faces", or trying to crawl and just going backwards, or holding your own bottle, or "growling" at me, everything is so wonderful! I couldn't ask for a more amazingly, beautiful daughter, you really are one in a million!

I had you weighed today and you are now 14lbs, 12oz and 25.5in! A little petite package whom I love so much!

The search for a dayhome continues as I've only got three more months on mat leave and then back to work. It isn't a fun search and I am getting to the point where I don't want to go back to work; I just don't want to leave you! Maybe something will change and I won't have to go back....

Love you forever,
Mommy

Such A Big Help....

I have booked a craft show for August 22nd, so today I have been busy making Graffiti crafts to sell, and boy do I ever have a big "helper"! It slows me down, but I just love it!

A Sleeping Monkey....

Is there anything better......????

What Have We Been Doing?

Wow, it has been a few weeks since I've updated! We have been staying busy; out and about in the city and Clint was home for a week too, so that was nice! It is hard to believe that the summer is already half over....that means the time for me to go back to work is soon approaching. I have been spending some more time looking for a dayhome; it doesn't seem to be proving easy so far. So what's new and what have we been doing......

Makayla has been working on her "funny faces"!



We spent some time with Nicky and Brooklyn in between their vacations (BC & Australia)!




We have spent some time at the beach!





Then Clint was home for his one week off a month, so we decided to take our first family holiday! We went to Canmore for 4 nights! It was a great trip!













The day after we got home from Canmore we went to Capital Ex, the annual exhibition here (same as what we just went to in Calgary with Auntie Cindy - Stampede). That was fun!

So, basically Makayla and I have been keeping busy, trying to pass time while Clint is away, but also trying not to let her grow too quickly! Makayla has been working on crawling, which for her really means getting up on her knees, then face planting, trying again and sliding backwards. Just within the last few days she has figured out that if she sits up and pushes with her hands she can turn around, so she has been doing lots of "circles". Also, just two days ago she figured out that if she gets up on her knees then pushes backwards she can actually sit up; she is so proud, as is Mommy!

Graffiti is still a go, I just need to get somemore parties booked; I have one for later in August and a trade show in September, also a few people who want to book for September!