A Visit From My Favorite Baby!

Hello friends!  Yes, I really am sharing more baby photos with you!! :)  I had a virus this last week and was on a self-imposed baby restriction for three days!  It was awful... Especially the day that Doug and my mom got to go visit Avaleigh without me!  But by Thursday I was feeling better and on Friday morning, after her one week check up, Avaleigh had her parents bring her by for a visit with gramma (or so I tell myself).

After her tough morning at at the doctor's office, followed by yum-yums from her mommy, Avaleigh was one tired little girl.  She did fight sleep for a bit and try to wake up to play with Gran Doug and I, but finally, sleep won out!

So yes, I got out my camera and took more photos of my favorite baby.  I then looked at all of the photos over and over after she went home!!!  I am so completely smitten!!

Because Avaleigh looks so big in the other photos, I am posting this blurry photo of me holding her so that you can see her real size.  I told her that she now weighs as much as her mommy did at birth! 

I do have a new post for both tomorrow and Monday, so stop back by for updates.

Meet My New Granddaughter!!

Avaleigh Skye Ross.
Born January 22, 2015
7 lb, 13 oz., 20 in.

 

Avaleigh was delivered via c-section so above it the first time Bethany could hold her baby!

Their sweet little family.

 Meeting Gramma for the first time!

Meeting Great Granny for the first time!

So very upset with that mean nurse who gave me my first bath!!!

,

Worn out after her bath, shot, weighing, poking, prodding, hair do, and getting dressed.

We are completely in love with the baby!!

A Poorly Photographed Layout and a Baby Update

Hello everyone.  Today I am going to share another poorly photographed wedding layout with you AND give you an update on my overdue granddaughter. 

Bethany was admitted to the hospital last night, given medication and was hooked up for monitoring. Avaleigh is being a stubborn girl and just does not want to meet us!  However, Bethany's doctor says enough is enough - today is the day!  This morning Bethany will be reevaluated and most likely will receive a Pitocin drip to start labor.  If nothing develops and there is not marked progress, Avaleigh will be delivered via c-section today.  The odds are against them for a natural delivery. The doctor said that 80% of women in Bethany's circumstances (lack of dilation, etc.) end up with a section. Bethany seems to be taking this all in stride, though she and John did call and talk to us last night. But then again that was probably to settle down Doug and I!!!  If all goes well I just might have baby photos to post tomorrow!

Now to paper crafting - this two page layout - again POORLY photographed - was created using printed card stock with solids.  I love, love the sentiment - You put the Happily in my Ever After.  I found this cut and the Mr. & Mrs. cut in the Silhouette America store.  

I used a lot of pearls to embellish this layout.

I hate that the photos are so dark, blurred, glarey, etc.  The layout really is darling when one can actually see it!

Thanks for stopping by today and be sure to check back tomorrow to see if we have baby news!!

Details Wedding Layout

Hello everyone.  Do you remember the old saying, "The Devil's in the details"?  I do not believe that.  I believe the finished look is in the details.  And that is what this layout is all about - the look of Bethany's wedding created with the details.

First, I MUST apologize for the color issues I have had with the last two layouts. Neither Monday's layout nor today's layout photographed true to color.  The colors are much better in real life.

I was a very fortunate mother of the bride in that my daughter had a vision of what she wanted for her wedding AND it was a look that I loved and had no trouble embracing and growing.

With this layout I feared any scrapping elements might over shadow the actual photos so I went with a simple layout:  I cut my printed 12 x 12 inch sheets of  card stock down to 10.5 x 10.5 inches and matting them onto Colonial White card stock. Using my Silhouette Cameo, I cut six double layer roses and two corner vines.

I assembled four of the roses the correct way, and for the other two I applied the negative area of the petal cutouts to the background rose.  I wanted to create a bit of contrast when I layered the flowers on the pages.

I cut the vine in a subtle cashmere color to enhance the pages, but not over take them.  I am very pleased with how the pages turned out, even if the photos do not reflect the true colors and details.

Please forgive any errors in this post - I am sure I missed many.  We like to honor the true 12 days of Christmas at our house so yesterday was Christmas decor de-decorating day where everything was taken down and put away - almost.  My Dickens Village is still out  and I must sort through bows and tags to see what is salvageable.  Yesterday was also my mom's 78th birthday so in addition to the Christmas deconstruction, I also hosted our family for Granny's birthday gathering last night.  It was a LONG day.  THEN I prepared this blog post. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  I will be back in the week more rested with a new post! 

Happy Holidays

Hello everyone, I hope you had a lovely Christmas!  The Bitten By The Bug 2 design team is on holiday break this week so instead of a project, I am going to bore you with my mediocre family Christmas photos!  Above and below are photos of our tree BEFORE the the paper-apocalypse of gift opening.

Below is John in a semi food coma following dinner.

Bethany was still feeling perky at this point (unlike her husband above) so she paused to pose with her granny!  Bethany is looking VERY pregnant as the baby is due in less than three weeks (YES, I am EXCITED)!

Duncan received the first gift this year - a new blue and magenta adorable dragon.  Duncan loves him!

The passing out of the gifts with John making a move to open a large box first.

Granny selecting her first package to open.

I an reacting to a gift from one of his siblings.

Doug liking his new Apple Mac Book Pro.

The mess - the pile of wrapping paper AFTER being crushed down twice.  Yes that is me sitting on the ottoman enjoying the show.

Before gifts, after dinner, we took time to have our annual crazy cookie decorating event. This was John's first year doing crazy cookies with us and he REALLY enjoyed himself.

Aaron, Crissie, and I are working hard on our cookies!  Doug was the photographer, drink filler, and all around "footman" as he did not want to decorate cookies.  Though in the end he did decorate three cookies.  My favorite was his angle which became a Ninja Turtle.

Ian, Bethany, and John hard at work creating cookie masterpieces!

Crissie and Susan's cookies.

Ian's cookies.

We had a wonderful celebration and hope that all of you enjoyed time with those you care about also.

I will be back with projects to share later this week.

Biltmore Christmas Tree Layout

 (Click on any image to see larger)

Hello friends it is December first, Cyber Monday, the first day on my Advent Calendar, AND Bitten by the Bug 2 day!!  I have a lot going on today so buckle in and let's get started!

My amazing design team sister, Jayne, selected this week's BBTB2 Cricut Challenge.  Sadly, because I am a total bone head sometimes, I tweaked her challenge.  Jayne asked the team (and you) to craft a Christmas card with a Cricut cut Christmas Tree.  Miss "I can read" here spent a few hours creating a two page layout, complete with Christmas Trees, only to discover when I added my photo to the Bitten by the Bug 2 blog that I was supposed to make a card!!  I was too tired after a weekend of Christmas decorating, house cleaning, and finishing my Christmas shopping to start over again at 7:30 pm Sunday night!  So in a most high-handed manner, I tweaked the challenge to include my layout!!  (Sorry Jayne!)

As you already know, Doug and I went to the Candlelight Christmas at Biltmore to celebrate our anniversary the weekend of November 22.  We purchased a 5 x 7 inch photo package after our tour - a photo of us and a photo of the house.  The Christmas Tree challenge (since I missed the word CARD) seemed like the perfect opportunity to get this two photos scrapped and the pages booked!  

I used my Cricut Explore and three cartridges to complete the two page layout.  The cartridges I used are:  Winter Woodland, Family Album, and Holiday Cards 30.  I really liked the Merry Christmas layout on the Family Album cartridge but I wanted to edit the layout a bit.  I deleted one of the two ornaments and one of the strands of lights.  I also deleted the shadow layer of the Merry Christmas phrase.  

I cut the layout page elements twice, after the edits.  I thought the plaid Graphic 45 card stocked looked great as a matting and matched my Christmas colors well.  By using only two of the four ornaments I would have had if I cut all of the elements twice, I made room to include my elegant Christmas Tree cuts.  

The Christmas Trees and the Jingle Bells are both from the Winter Woodland cartridge.  I thought the elegant embellishments worked with the colors and the photos.  I did use two of the strands of Christmas lights from the Family Album layout just to add a touch of fun.

The final element of the card was cut using Cricut's Holiday Card #30.  I took the house and tree cuts as an overlay on the Biltmore House page.   For a final touch of elegance, I trimmed the pages to 11.5 x 11.5 inches and matted the pages onto black card stock.

Keep reading below for three amazing deals.  #1 is for today only, #'s 2 & 3 will continue all month long!

Anniversary Weekend Getaway

Hello friends.  Doug and I are away this weekend celebrating our thirty-third wedding anniversary.  We are visiting the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.  We have been to Biltmore twice previously with our family, but this is our first solo trip and our first trip during the Christmas Season. 

I ordered tickets to the Candlelight Christmas Evenings at Biltmore Estate late last summer.  The Estate can be visited during the day throughout the Christmas season, or for a special treat, you may purchase Candlelight Evening tickets. 

I am looking forward to seeing all of the rooms decorated for the Christmas.  I confess that I am itching to decorate my own home, though somewhat LESS dramatically than the Biltmore decorators!  I have been receiving daily updates on decorating and seasonal events at the Estate... building the anticipation.

Did I mention that prior to our eight o'clock evening tour time we have dinner reservations on the estate?  I will have to keep you posted on what all of the details.

The Candlelight Evenings are supposed to include seasonal entertainment throughout the house:  dancers, choirs, and musicians, all to the glow of candlelight.

Did I mention that you can also take sleigh and carriage rides?  You can participate in many outdoor activities during the daytime hours.  Biking, hiking, and horseback riding to name a few.

 Info about Candlelight Christmas Evenings:

November 7, 2014–January 3, 2015

Explore Biltmore House during holiday evenings when candles and fireplaces fill the grand home with a warm glow, accenting delicate ornaments and priceless treasures with metallic shine and sparkle, and music warms the heart. This year, book a Candlelight Christmas Evening at Biltmore to make holiday memories with your family that will last a lifetime.

Your evening admission includes:

• Reserved evening visit to Biltmore House
• Daytime access to Biltmore Gardens and Antler Hill Village & Winery on the same day as your evening visit or the next day
• Free parking

For more information, including ticket prices and other details, click THIS LINK.  Remember you may also make your dining reservations and hotel reservations on the Biltmore website.

 http://www.biltmore.com/visit/plan-your-visit/buy-tickets/candlelight-evenings