Sewing: Tea Party Dress and Playsuit

My latest adventures in Oliver & S sewing was a tea party dress and playsuit. The dress was difficult because of the separate panels and lining and the playsuit was difficult because I learned a tough lesson about fabric patterns lining up. Still, I think both were successful and Dillon seems not to mind the wonky stitches.

"20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" dress:

 

Modeling it on a walk through Balboa Park:

 

"Dillon's Candy Shop" playsuit (you can see pictures of it on Dillon here):

Physician, Heal Thyself!

It's okay to let her self-administer, right?

Janie & Jack Favorite Outfits

Don't let her name fool you--I love dressing Dillon is girly girl clothes. Janie and Jack makes the cutest proper girl clothes around. Here are some favorite outfits:

Janie and Jack cigarette pants and floral top.

Janie and Jack scalloped hat.

Janie and Jack sunglasses.

Janie and Jack plaid pleated skirt.

Wordless Wednesdays (XVIII)

Taken: 6/16/2013

Baby Shower + Friends + Dolphins

A few months ago we went to L.A. for Stephanie's baby shower. We were also able to spend some time with Tasha, Kurt and their sweet boy, Crosby. The next day we had a dolphin-drawing contest.

 

Mommy took her shoes off!

If mommy has her shoes off...

Maybe we have shoes on and maybe we don't!

Crosby and Dillon cuddle up in Wink's bed.

Dillon's dolphin

Craig's dolphin

Michelle's dolphin

Daddy Play Time

If there's one thing daddies are good at, it's playing!

Piggy back rides:

Wheee!

Slide buddy:

Wheee! x 3

Swing propeller:

Dillon Museum of Fine Art (II)

Since Dillon's last art post 3 months ago, she has done so many art projects! Some she does at daycare, some she does with her nanny, and some she just does on her own. Her favorite things to draw are hearts, pumpkins and for some weird reason, eyeballs. Here are some of the highlights:

She is really good with circles.

The tiny hand and foot are so cute.

D is for Dillon!

A bold choice pairing purple and yellow.

I call this one "Big Bang Theory."

Helen Frankenthaler at work.

While Waiting For a Table...

This video is from a few months ago--taken at a time when Dillon was enthralled with cell phones and cameras. With a dose of tot-sized creativity, she turned our dinner buzzer into a smartphone.

Pumpkin Patch Bday

One trip to the pumpkin patch is just not enough! When a friend's daughter celebrated her 3rd birthday, we headed up to Escondido for hay rides, corn mazes, and of course pumpkins!!

Can you spot the Dillon?

Where the heck is the exit?

Working hard on a masterpiece.

Goofing off with daddy and raccoon.

Juice break!

Channeling Margaret Bourke-White.

First the cake starts good...

...but it always ends bad.

Wordless Wednesdays (XVII)

Taken: 7/4/2013

This is Halloween

Despite this being Dillon's 3rd Halloween, this is really the first time she has been an active participant. However, as I was just coming off of her flamingo party frenzy, I didn't have any time to put together a proper outfit (nor was I very motivated to spend hours on an outfit that would see 40 minutes of action...in the dark), so we jury-rigged something from clothes she had around the house, including the tutu I made when I was pregnant. I present to you: Dillon Ballerina. The best part was the Halloween fairy who magically transformed all of Dillon's candy (except for one tiny Kit Kat) into money overnight!

Someone is not thrilled with Halloween.

Still not happy...(to be fair I accidentally put a 12 month onesie on her)

Hitting the streets looking for candy.

This bag is getting heavy!

Bates Nut Farm--Almost as Hot as Last Year

Last month we headed to Bates Nut Farm to inaugurate the fall season. Bates really stepped it up this year--there was a petting zoo, horse wagon rides, and, of course, pumpkins galore. It was still darn hot, although we weren't quite as baked as we were last year.

Come to me, duckies!

These pumpkins are not in order!

Do I look happy?

I took this one for my work photo club on vertical shots.

Nothing says fall like sitting on a 95 degree pumpkin!

The Flamingo Party

To celebrate Dillon's 2nd birthday we threw her a flamingo party in the park. Originally we were going to have a flamingo pinata, but structural as well as moral issues were raised, so instead we ended up with a lovely centerpiece!

That's a pretty good looking flamingo!

Flamingo cake!

Singing to the birthday girl.

Flamingos love swings.

And, man, do flamingos love cake!

Dillon plays her own version of bean bag toss.

Presents!!

Dillon is 2!!!!

Dillon is officially 2. Whether it will be "terrible" or not, only time will tell. As with last year's birthday, I took the day off from work so I could frolic with my little lamb. She was dressed in the candy play suit I sewed for her. Happy birthday, little one!

First Dillon played with her new jewelry box.

Then we had breakfast at The Broken Yolk.

Then we went to the mall to play in the fountains.

We tried on some clothes at American Apparel.

We strutted.

We carried our purchases around.

We rested.

We combed the new kitty from Build-a-Bear.

Rides for Dillon and Ruby.