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.
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!
Christmas morning was fantastically fun!
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!
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!
So cute!! I love it when they're cognizant at Christmas!! Hee hee!
ReplyDeleteI dunno. I've given birth in two hospitals now and it was like day and night. In Michigan--they had twice daily BFing classes for new moms to hobble on over to with their newborns, and they had a couple of lactation specialists on duty to help you out. Here in New Jersey? Yeah none of that. In fact I got the impression from the nurses that I was odd for wanting Jersey Boy to room in the room with me overnight. I mean what's the point in sending him to the nursery if I'm BFing?? They'd just have to drag him back everytime he's hungry. And as for BFing instruction this time? Nada. Ironically, even with all those classes and lactation consultants, I couldn't BF Chunky--but given the absence of them here in Jersey--JB is a BFing champ!