Ick again, or, New ick

Nasty cold - bad.
Baby conjunctivitis - bad.
Remembering that I can be a wimp and take ibuprofen for my sinus headache - good.

It's about the small blessings.

Ick, or, What to do

What do you do for dinner if you have a nasty, icky cold and haven't slept well in days because your dear seven month old is waking up every two hours to yell at you, and your husband has to be out all evening after a full day of work, and you have very little in the way of groceries in the house? Well, if you're me, and happen to have a twenty, you order some General Tso's and some fried rice.

Some day, this child will sleep well.
And on that day, we will rejoice.

Round-up, or, The Cute, The Not Bad, and The Unfortunate

Peanut's first Christmas was a lovely one, though rather rainy. We all three went to the late-night service on Christmas Eve; she made friends with the Todds in the pew behind The Man's family, and eventually fell peacefully to sleep in the wrap with The Man, a picture of contentment.

Christmas morning was fantastically fun!

Peanut's first gift; Done, NEXT!!

Helping Daddy open his gift; Opening her gift from Daddy


Action shot!! and Playing with her new elephant in her new purple suit with matching do-rag!

Apparently I was good this year, too; Santa brought me a tambourine (as every singer needs!) and A Bit of Fry and Laurie. It is hilarious, but I'm partial to British comedy, and loooove both Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. It's awesome. The Man seemed quite pleased with his ginormous gift, as well. The third picture above is of Peanut helping him open it: a kit to brew beer at home. Ingenious gift giving on both parts!

Our first time hosting Christmas dinner was more or less successful: the turkey and stuffing turned out perfectly, though we ate about an hour later than we had hoped (there was a slight issue with getting the turkey into the oven a little late, and with seven last-minute drop-in guests). Next year, well, next year I'll have a better idea of what I'm doing! Of course, I'll also have a toddler, so who knows if things will actually improve.

We'll also have a four and a half month old infant here. I'm going to be an auntie! My little sister (not so little: she's 26) is due in early August with her first child. We're all extremely excited, and she's already talking enthusiastically about having a midwife and a home birth and cloth diapering. It's fabulous!

I got to see my newly preggo sister yesterday afternoon at our friend's baby shower. It was...interesting. I've recently decided to train to be a doula, a birth assistant, as I feel very passionately about birthing options for women and assisting women in having positive birth experiences. My friend who is due in about four weeks is a post-partum nurse in a nearby hospital, and many of the other women who were at the shower are also nurses, so it made for some rather, uh, interesting conversations. It never ceases to amaze me how, so often, women choose to thwart one another when it comes to pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. It seems a strangely North American phenomenon. It was disappointing that this friend, who only a few years ago was considering studying to become a midwife and thought home births were wonderful, is now absolutely convinced that birth is always a painful and unpleasant process; I'm not saying that it isn't for some, but it doesn't need to be for everyone. Yesterday afternoon certainly affirmed for me that I definitely need to become a doula: there are so many negative voices surrounding pregnant women - I plan to be a positive one!

::

I knit our new little niece a Baby Surprise Jacket for Christmas. Did I take a picture before wrapping it up? No, of course not. I am a fool. I am entirely hooked on the BSJ, though: that thing is an engineering marvel!!

I have a tunic of mine to show you, and a cardi I finished knitting a couple of months ago (though haven't finished finishing, if you understand me - blocking, sewing on ribbon-facing and attaching snaps - but Peanut has been wearing it anyway) but have yet to get good pictures of any of it. I leave you with this sleepy picture of Peanut in her mostly-done cardi. Happy day-after-day-after-Boxing Day!

Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas, everyone! Blessings on you and yours this day and in the year to come!

Remembering, or, In anticipation

From Sufjan Stevens Christmas album.

This was my very favourite Christmas song as a child. Peanut and I danced around the kitchen this morning and I sang it to her and I cried. I'm finding this Christmas with her so overwhelmingly happy.

Sweet potato, or, Peanut's first solid

No real eating was accomplished, though she licked a little bit at the end. We'll try again tomorrow!

Will you look at that, or, Teeny Tiny

Actual knitting!

I began knitting these waaaay back in the early summer, thinking that they would be just darling for Peanut to wear. Unfortunately, my gauge estimate and entirely slow progress on them conspired to have her grow out of them long before they were completed. Peanut has a new little cousin arriving on Monday, however (we will not discuss my position on unnecessary, scheduled sections at this time. Needless to say: I have opinions about them and bite my tongue around SIL) so she (sonagrams imply that the cousin will be a girl) will be gifted these upon her arrival.



Pattern: Saartje's Booties
Yarn: Jawoll Superwash Sock in Dark Brown
Needles: 2.0 mm, I think
Mods: none

Messiah, or, Yep, still no knitting content

It's good to acquaint a baby with important cultural icons. Peanut and I listened to selections from Handel's Messiah and she read through it as we did.

Guess who's going to play Jesus tomorrow at church? Which, by default, makes who Mary? Should be fun!