Cleaning Fragile Stuffed Animals

Let me start off by telling you too much information about myself.  I'm 29 and I still sleep with a stuffed animal.  Don't judge me.  It is the teddy bear (Poppy Bear) that my PaPa gave me when I was just 2.  I have slept with him ever since.  Seriously, stop laughing, it's not nice.

So anyway, now that I gave you a little T.M.I. on to the real subject.  After Amelia had her bottle this morning, she spit up a little, and it got on Poppy.

Poppy Bear

Poppy's tummy-that's a little bit of spit up, but mostly it is the worn part where his fur has fallen out.

Poppy hasn't been through the washing machine in a really long time (and honestly I don't remember the last time he had a "bath"-gross, I know).  Well I knew I would have to do something now.  A while ago, I stumbled on this post on Pinterest about washing stuffed animals that cannot go through the washer.  I had been meaning to try it with Poppy, but just hadn't gotten around to it yet.  I read through the post again, to see what I needed.  She recommends using HE laundry soap, a toothbrush and white towels.  We aren't special enough to have a front loading washing machine, so I didn't have any HE soap.  I figured baby shampoo would be gentle enough, so I gathered my supplies.

I didn't have any extra toothbrushes either, but we had these "toothies" left over from when Amelia was in the NICU.  It's just a tiny sponge on a plastic stick.  I got my towels together and a bowl.

I made some soapy water with the baby shampoo and spot cleaned all of the spots of spit with the "toothbrush".  Then I cleaned his face and paws.  After that I soaked the rag and gave him a gentle scrubbing.  WOW there was a lot of cat hair on him.  I ruffled up his fur to get him good and clean.  

When I was done washing him, I dabbed him dry with a towel.  Then I put him in the dryer on low heat, delicate cycle for about 12 minutes with a damp blanket.  When I took him out, we looked great!  He had fluffed up a bit, and smelled MUCH better!  He feels way softer now too...time for bed! :)

Foyer Update

So sometime last summer, my BFF (Audrey) and I were at Junk Jubilee at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.  We both really love the junky goodness.  Anyway, I saw this big black "H" at one of the booths and decided that I must have it.  The more we walked around, the more letters we saw-some cut out of rusty metal roofing, some were plastic letters from old signs, and a variety of other styles.  So Audrey looks at me and says "you should make an "H" wall, and I will start an "O" wall (see her post about it here and follow her blog).  best. idea. ever.  For several months the h's sat in a pile in my craft room collecting dust.  Every time either one of us would go somewhere, we would look for h's and o's.  Finally, I had a good eclectic collection of h's.  After we took down the Christmas tree this year (we put the Christmas tree in the foyer this year to keep Amelia out of it) I FINALLY quit procrastinating and started hangin' h's.  This is how it turned out-

I started with this arrangement,  it was a work in progress and I couldn't decide if I was going to fill the entire wall with h's, or put something else underneath.  I thought about finding an old junky dresser and restoring it, then my genius mom suggested that I revive a table that I already had (except it's hers, but I stole it fair and square.)  

The bottom of the table is the base to an old sewing machine, and the top is a nice finished piece of wood that the next door neighbor cut for her.  Mom used to have the table behind her couch.  It fit perfectly here.  Then I dug out this old duck lamp that my Grandma gave my Daddy a long time ago (Aaron's idea), and added some of my favorite pictures (a few from our wedding and one of Amelia)-and voila!  A very cheap update to our foyer...now I just need to hide the ugly cord.

What do you think?

xoxo,

Emily

13 and 14 Months-Mostly pictures!

13 Months

So as usual, I’m behind.  This will be a photo-heavy entry with a few quick Amelia facts!  She is so busy all the time now, so it makes it really hard to get a non-blurry picture.  Daddy had surgery in January, so we switched to the big girl bathtub.  As you can see below-she LOVES it.  As of January 31st, Amelia has been at home with us for a full year!

13 Month Facts-

Weighs about 18 lbs 12 oz. 

Eats 4 ½-5 oz whenever she wants

Wears size 3 diapers and 6-9 month size clothes

Is starting to eat more real food

Loves to wave bye-bye

Dances to any music

Walks around like a wild woman

Can say Pop Pop (but only if you beg)

Loves to play Peek-A-Boo

She is a little wiggle worm

Laughs at everything!

14 Months

14 Month Facts-

Weighs about 19lbs 5 oz. 

Eats 4 ½-5 oz whenever she wants

Wears size 3 diapers and 6-9 month size clothes

Loves to eat bites of chicken and cheese

FINALLY starting cutting teeth

Thinks playing Peek-A-Boo is the funniest thing ever

Dances around to music

Walks and runs around

Won't lie still long enough to get her diaper changed

Is almost always happy!

xoxo,

Emily