The Blessing

Blair helped Noah lead the prayer before supper the other night.  Here's how that went:

Blair:   Dear Jesus,

Noah:  Dear Jesus,

Blair:   We love you

Noah:  We love you

Blair:   Thank you for the food

Noah:  Thank you for the food

Blair:   Thank you for Mommy and Daddy

Noah:  Thank you for Mommy and Daddy

Blair:   Thank you for everyone else who is in our family

Noah:  ...ok

Blair:   Amen

Noah:  Amen

His Tree

When Blair and I first got married, we didn't really have room for a large tree, so we got a little three-foot fake one to put in the corner each year.  Last year I dragged it out and let Noah use it as "his tree." Last night, he and his daddy set it up.

Right now, it just has the little paper bird ornaments on it that I made last season, but I think over the next few days, Noah and I may make some more to go on it.  He's so pleased.

Surrounded by Projects

There's been much knitting, crocheting, and crafting in general here over the last few weeks.  Most of it is for Christmas, so pictures of those goodies will have to wait until after they've been opened (and hopefully enjoyed) by their recipients.  However, I bound this off the needles last night, and couldn't wait to show you.  The pattern is from here, and is just a bit fiddly (it has been translated into English), but if you've ever done any sweater knitting, all you have to do is follow your instinct.

This is for our little one, and I used a super soft alpaca that I bought several years ago.  I've been hanging on to it (and moving around the country with it) waiting for just the right project.  I finally found it.

The Day After Thanksgiving

 While I appreciate the meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday, it's the day after that I really look forward to.  Not for the sales or the shopping (we make most of the gifts we give), but for the decorating.  I don't do a full-out blitz because I enjoy putting up little touches here and there throughout the month of December, but putting up the Christmas tree is my favorite family tradition.  Pulling down the boxes and trying to remember where everything is may be a hassle (I still haven't found my extra Advent candles), but there's something about turning on my favorite Christmas music, setting up the tree, pulling out the ornaments, and plugging in those lights for the first time of the season that fills me with joy.  I wait with happy anticipation for weeks, knowing that the Advent Season is almost here.  

This year, I finally made the Jesse Tree ornaments I've been planning for the last three Christmases.  All those hours of cutting and hand stitching will be enjoyed one day at a time, as we go through the Scripture with Noah, pointing the way to the birth of Christ, and I chose to give that gift the day after Thanksgiving because of the significance of that day to me. 

Hopefully, when my children are older, they will regard the day after Thanksgiving with the same love that I do.  I want them to have happy memories of putting the tree up after supper and drinking cocoa, but most importantly, beginning the journey to The Manger.

Conversations with Blair: What do you know?

Me:  When's All State octet testing?

Blair:  January 26.

Me:  HAAAAhahahahahahaha!  I hope you make it there!

Blair:  Why? (total panic) What do you know??

Me:  I know we have a baby due four days after that...

Blair:  Oh.  I know that (looking totally relieved).  I thought you had prior knowledge of some apocalyptic event or bad weather or something.  I haven't forgotten we're having a baby.

And today's post is brought to you by this completely unrelated photo:

Weekending: Chugging Along

Between two late evening rehearsals and being out of town for three days, Noah and I only got to see Blair once this week.  By Friday, we were more than tired of being cooped up in the house together and were looking at each other like this:

Fortunately, Friday was a beautiful day and allowed for some great playtime outside.

Ten Reasons I'm Thankful for my Cranky Two-Year-Old

With the Thanksgiving season upon us, I think it's important to try to make an extra effort to look around us for items and people we wouldn't ordinarily give thanks for.  This is especially important for mothers of young children.  It's what keeps us sane and reminds us that "This too shall pass."  This year, the Thanksgiving season has melded with the dreaded cold season, and any mama knows that makes for a tough time on our young ones.  So, amidst the tantrums and handkerchiefs, I spent the morning mulling over ways to flip this over to it's positive side, and actually give thanks for having a cranky little man in the house. 

Ten Reasons I'm Thankful for my Cranky Two-Year-Old

Not showering comes with unexpected benefits:

1.  I looked so rough yesterday when I went to vote, people let me ahead of them in line.  I only spent 15 minutes at the poll.

2.  I really got to see the depths of my husband's love when after three days of not showering, he still rubbed my feet at the end of a long day.

3.  When my hair is actually clean, I get great compliments from Blair like, "Did you get your hair done today?  It looks really great!"

And then there's three-fold blessing of crafting with a little one:

4.  I have so much glue stick in my hair I will never have to buy hair product again.  Hello extra money in my pocket.
 
5.  I'm able to craft while sitting down and resting.
 
6.  There are so many little paper leaves on the floor that it looks like autumn in Vermont (and this is probably the closest I'll ever get to seeing that).

Giving Thanks For the Snot

7.  My non-snuggly little one is snuggly.

8.  All of this snuggle time has allowed me the rare opportunity to watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving at least 14 times in the last two days.  Now if anything ever happens to our DVD, I can simply quote it.  This may come in handy at dinner parties...

9.  My son will probably be the only member of his generation to know what a handkerchief is.  Long live the tradition!

And finally, I am giving thanks for the fact that:

10. The only thing wrong with my child is a little head cold. So many children in this world suffer from much worse, and my child is an overall happy, healthy little one.

So, there you go, mamas.  It may be difficult, but there are blessings mixed in amongst our trials.  Have a lovely day and give your babies an extra hug.

Friday Photo

Homemade Thin Mints.  

Because I married the most wonderful man.   And he works incredibly long, hard hours 7 days a week and then came home on his only free evening and accomplished his least favorite task in home maintenance...painting.  Simply because he loves me that much.  So, for you Blair, homemade chocolate cookies.