Forever Sleeper

Don't you just love a good hand-me down? They make you wonder what the other baby was doing when they wore them. The baby may outgrow the outfit, but the clothes will live on!  Alex is going through his clothes so quickly so I was super excited when I received a shipment of clothes from my sister. I'm refusing to buy any new clothes for a while. Mr. Patrick however believes I should trade in my shoes to sponsor fresh gear? Hahaha

Here he is Alex wearing him hand-me down and trying to jump in his exersaucer

                                   

Here's my nephew in the same jumper looking sweet as can be... Alex should take notes.

Ikea Chair Revamp

Spring is here and everyone knows that Mrs. Patrick loves any excuse to redecorate (Phaedra RHOA). I went shopping last weekend in search of a good bar stool, and found a great find at IKEA.
The BOSSE stool leaves a bit to be desired in terms of looks and was almost at the cusp of being overpriced for IKEA at $39.99 (yes there is a limit to how much I will spend at stores where I have to build my own furniture). But it was a great blank slate to redecorate and personalize the stool Patrick style.

The stool is a bland birch wood with a slot in the middle. Is this a piggy bank or a stool? They say that it allows the stool to be moved easily. Either way it doesn't matter because it will be covered up.

First step is to stain the chair to go with my chocolate and cream color scheme. I used water based MINWAX mahogany stain to darken the stools. The stool will absorb most of the first coat, so you will have to probably add three different layers. Here is the second layer:

After three coats the color doesn't really get darker. Here are the stools at three with a polyurethane semi glossy coat

Now to deal with the silly piggy bank top. I used 2 inch foam for the cushion that I got on sale from Hancock Fabrics for $4 with a 40% off coupon. The fabric is from Paradise fabric in Suitland Maryland...this store literally has thousands of fabric choices in one small storefront and extensive west African prints.

Open Wide

Ever since having Alex I see baby teeth differently. I couldn’t understand why children had early childhood caries, but this is not the case anymore. I have true empathy for parents (you know the characteristic that you write on all of your dental school applications, but you don't really have... that's the one). I completely understand the plight of the new parent brushing his/her child’s teeth. Before his teeth erupted it was pretty easy to wipe his gums off after nursing. Now the little boy has teeth, and he will use them! You don’t want to get stuck in the chute.

 I have found that the best way to brush his teeth is by holding him while I brush mine. He is so eager to do whatever mommy and daddy does that he will usually open for his own toothbrush...or just eat it. He interacts with the world by eating everything. Our next battle is the tongue.