As I type....

The gas fireplace is turned on, I have a laptop on my lap, Grace is snug upstairs in bed, it's 9:33 pm at night, and Nate is fast asleep, in front of the fireplace on the floor. It's New Years Eve, and as my Dad put it this morning, we are spending our night tonight, as we have spent most nights previous, waiting on our baby. It looks like he is choosing 2010 to be his year.

Before Nate fell into slumber infront of the warm fire, we spent some time talking about our favorite parts of 2009. Here's a peak back for all of you:

Last December, we started trying for a baby. We had no idea at that time, that a year from then, we'd be waiting on our baby.

January I ran my first back to back "ultramarathon" of a half the first day, and a full marathon the next day. What an accomplishment this was. I learned to truly have confidence in myself and that really, anything is possible when you focus on the present and just put one foot in front of the other.

April saw us take a trip to Hawaii with my parents, and it was there we also found out we were expecting. After 5 months of trying, we were ecstatic. It was also on this trip, that we learned to truly, deeply appreciate the life growing inside of me after some early concerns, and fears, that after just finding out we were expecting, that we thought we had lost our little one. We are so blessed that he is still with us.

May, oh May. Grace turned 2. A year in such a little person is truly a huge thing. Grace this year has learned to somersault, and to talk in setences that astound us. Little things are big things, and June saw her potty trained. It has been a blissful half a year diaper free.

August saw Nate and I celebrate 7 years of marriage. I'm a lucky lady to be married to my best friend. Someone who can make me laugh even on the worst of days, who brings out the best in me, and who challenges me to become someone better. I couldn't ask for a better mate.

August saw us also learn about our baby's two vessel cord, and sent our world into a temporary tailspin. Four ultrasounds and a fetal echocardiogram later, we were relieved in early November to hear that our little man was ok and healthy.

September I hit a milestone birthday. 30. I'm still more scared of 31 than I am of 30. Nate and my girlfriends made me feel so incredibly spoiled, special, and loved. September also marked me being off work full time with Grace. A hard decision, but the right decision.

October brought Halloween and the first time trick or treating. What a delight.

November Nate took a big step in a new career change. The next step should be in January. We can't wait to see what happens.

And December. Here we are, on the last day. How did this Fall and Winter zip by so quickly? Was it not just August?

Overall, 2009 was an amazing year for our family. Despite some heartaches, fears, and stumbles, the good outweighs all the negative that we, or our loved ones faced.

And oh how we are excited for 2010. The year our little man will join us. Who knew that we'd be looking at a January baby?! Not us, and we can't wait.

Nate's still fast asleep, and I think we'll soon be headed upstairs to sleep in the New Year at midnight.

Thank you friends for sharing this past year with me, in this blogland of ours. I have loved your comments, the friendships that have formed, and having you as a part of our lives, and I of yours. I look forward to sharing 2010 with you.

2010

I'm particularly excited/looking forward to 2010, more so than previous years. I've been doing some thinking on what it is that is making this coming year more of a highlight for me than those past. Here's so far what I've come up with:

1. This will be the first year, since having kids, that I get to spend the ENTIRE year at home with them. With Grace being born in the Spring, I was at home, and also at work, for both parts of 2007, 2008, and 2009. With Aidan being born.... sometime.... soon... I don't have an anticipated back to work date until 2011! A whole year at home with my family - a dream come true.

2. Nate has some exciting new work opportunities (we hope!) coming down the pipe. I can't wait to see where 2010 is going to take him career wise and where that will take our family.

3. Nate and I will celebrate 8 years of marriage in August, Grace will be turning 3 in May, and our little man, may, or may not, depending on his arrival, turn 1. All of those numbers excite me!

4. I have been thinking alot on friendships lately, and have some truly wonderful women in my life that bless me in more ways than I can put words too. I want to truly honor them in the year to come and have a few ideas up my sleeve I can't wait to put into action.

5. Knitting. You knew it would come up ;) Already this next year holds sock clubs for me, lace projects, and a sweater for each of our family members. Nate's is in progress (see my side bar), I already have the yarn for one for me, and yarn on the way for one for Miss G for her 3rd birthday. Mr. Aidan will also have a wee vest knit up for him at some point. Delicious wooliness for all. I love the diversity of all the knitting projects I so far have lined up.

6. Quilting. Grace's quilt should be back from the longarm quilter sometime in January. I'm looking forward to putting the binding back on and getting it on her bed. I'm also contemplating doing a Queen size quilt for Nate and I as an anniversary gift. We shall see... I'm a little daunted by the task but also excited.

7. Lastly, I'm looking forward to a year at home. We have no vacations, other than perhaps one to a neighbour province planned, and the idea of just BEING here, in our city, calms me. It will be a year of rooting in, and getting to know the family of four that we are soon to become.

Are you excited for 2010?

Yesterday

Favorite frogs wore party hats.

Grandparents spoiled their Grandaughter.

One of my favorite men (my Dad!) celebrated his birthday.

And we arrived at Due Date #1.

Three days 'til Due Date #2...

A new Mascot

Ok, perhaps I shouldn't say new... as I've never had a mascot. But, after receiving this little fellow today from a friend, I promptly decided I should have one, and he should be mine. It need not matter it was a gift for Aidan (heh, if the little fellow does not yet want to make an appearance, I may start claiming his gifts as my own!).

I can picture him sitting atop my stash of yarn, perhaps with a skein on his lap... or knitting needles. Or I may start leaving him in random places all over the house with little notes for people. Better yet, I may start leaving him places holding items letting my family know my current mood (like one of those emoticon fridge magnets). A Starbucks card for when I'm tired, chocolate for when I need to indulge a little, and knitting needles when I need some time for me. Or perhaps any of those three would also indicate I'm really quite truly happy.

Maybe the fact I am considering even adopting him as a mascot means I'm a little over the top with knitting. That it's become a bit of an obsessive past time this past year, and surely will be more so in the year to come.

Are you ready for 2010? I still can't believe how quickly November and, almost December, have flown by. Only five more days until we ring in a new year. And enter a new decade. I've been giving a little thought to resolutions. I'm not one typically to make any, but I do have a long list of knitting ambitions, and perhaps one large quilt ambition, that are on my to do list.

I gifted my Mom with "Henry" yesterday, and, herself being a knitter since she was quite young, commented on how much my "craft" of it has progressed. How much I've learned, and grown this past year. It was quite the compliment to receive from the woman who taught me how to knit my first stitches. We were speaking again this morning, and I told her how much I enjoy knitting while I watch Grace play, or while she's finishing breakfast, having a bath... that it keeps my hands busy. She summed it up quite well as knitting being "quite therapeutic."

I hope this coming year, with a new wee one in my care, as well as my little girl, that there will still be time to cast on new projects, learn new techniques, and gift those I love with handknit wooliness. I'm really looking forward to the next twelve months. Are you?

A Very Merry Christmas!

Nate sent me that video awhile back. I can't imagine living next to that house, despite how amazing it is to watch! We are headed out to my Mom & Dad's today to celebrate Christmas with family. I wish you all a blessed Christmas filled with laughter and love!

Restless

If I had to describe myself with one word this week, that would be it. Restless. It's not that I don't have things that I could do, just none of them hold any real appeal. Yes, even knitting (that's a shock, I know). I'm hoping perhaps I look composed on the outside, but inside I feel like I'm pacing. Patience is not my greatest virtue, but I find waiting on a baby especially hard.

The past few days I've:

Knit a pair of newborn slippers.

Made Candy Cane Bark. My favorite holiday treat that is so easy to make. Crush candy canes (by hand, blender or food processor), melt white chocolate on low heat in a pan. Stir candy cane into the melted chocolate, pour onto wax paper lined cookie sheet, and place in the fridge to harden. Break into pieces after cooled and enjoy! Yum!

Done some arts & crafts with Grace.

Finished up a pair of socks for her.

And even met Jolly Old St. Nick. She was surprisingly better than last year with the bearded fellow, but wouldn't go any closer than this picture shows.

As the days push closer to my due date, I'm finding it harder and harder to find things to do to take my mind off the persistent question "Today?" "Tomorrow?" "Now?" I'm thankful Christmas festivities begin tomorrow and can help push me into next week if need be.

Today I might try my hand at making one of these snowflakes. Harder than it looks!

Handcrafted Love

"Knitting is magic. Knitting is an act of creation and a simple transformation each and every time. Each knitted gift holds hours of my life. I know it looks just like a hat, but really, it's four hours at the hospital, six hours on the bus, two hours alone at four in the morning when I couldn't sleep because I tend to worry. It is all those hours when I chose to spend time warming another person. It's giving them my time - time that I could have spent on anything, or anyone, else. Knitting is love, looped and warm" Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (Yarn Harlot).

Reading those words last night in the introduction of her book "The Secret Life of a Knitter" I thought "Yes! That's exactly it!" It completely sums up how I feel about knitting, and the gifts I'm giving this holiday season.

If you're curious, here's some the places I've been knitting my holiday gifts:

1. Waiting for midwifery appointments, chiropractic appointments, and massage appointments.
2. Waiting at the breastfeding clinic.
3. On the C-Train.
4. In the Car.
5. In "my office" (also known as the blue couch in my living room).
6. At the kitchen table while Grace ate breakfast.
7. At my Mom & Dad's on Sunday afternoons.
8. With friends.
9. With family.
10. With Grace watching on.

And the hours - I have no clue. The first gift was cast on in June. I just finished binding off the last gift two days ago. That's alot of months.

I can't even count the amount of love.... which is probably what is most wonderful about a handcrafted gift. Knitting, quilting, anything made with your hands, also of course contains your heart. From picking out just the right yarn, to figuring out gauge, to casting on, and cursing occasionally when it just isn't working, to the satisfaction when binding off, and then wrapping it up in shiny paper and putting it under the tree.

Here's two that were gifted this weekend, to two very very dear friends. I hope they feel the love, warmth, thought, and friendship that is knit into every stitch.

Endpaper Mitts - more info on Ravelry here.

French Press Felted Slippers - more info on Ravelry here.

More knitting projects will be posted as the gifts are given over the next few days!

Cherished Memories

There are just under 7 days now til Christmas. Are you ready? We've had most of our gifts wrapped and under our tree now for weeks, but I just finished binding off the last of my knitting projects this morning. It feels SO good to have everything finalized. There are of course things I've let go this year:

• Christmas Cards. I gave this a no go and we are just going to send baby announcements instead.


• Christmas baking. For some reason, treats around here don't readily get consumed. We have fun making them, they go in a container, then get forgotten and thrown out. It's kind of a shame, so I've only made a couple of treats this year and that's it.

There is alot though that we've added in this Christmas season. With Grace being well on her way to 3, we've started new traditions such as skating and gingerbread house making, and as of a couple days ago, toboganning. There is something so splendid about sharing new experiences with someone. At any age.

The summer Nate and I were married, we drove back to Alberta from B.C. through the Rocky Mountains. He had never seen them before. I recall being in awe, watching his amazement as he gazed up at the towering peaks. It is so easy for amazing things to become everyday items when we are exposed to them so frequently.

And yesterday was not only the first time toboganning for Grace, but also for Nate. He'd gone down a hill on a crazy carpet before, but never an actual toboggan. I loved introducing both of them to something so "Albertan" to me.

Are there any new traditions you are starting this year or some cherished ones that without just wouldn't make the season "just right?"

And no, no babe yet. 9 days til Due Date #1. 14 days til Due Date #2. Tick tock, tick tock...

Quiet Preparation

I was in to see my chiropractor yesterday (which is going great!) and she asked how I was doing. A common question I'm getting alot lately, and one I always hesitate with my response on. I'm doing.... good? I'm ready? I'm waiting? Yesterday I was using "I'm ready". And she said what a nice place that is to be. That people always talk about the ferver of nesting, but never talk about the quiet that also comes right before a baby arrives.

And that's exactly where I'm at. Things here are quiet, or at least I feel quiet. The days feel long yet they also pass quickly. I'm getting anxious to meet our newest wee one, but am cherishing the days that I have right now solo with Grace. It's a sweet spot in life to be. And the snow outside, and the merriment of the holidays, just adds this little extra bit of bliss to the calm.

I'll try not to be too quiet around this space. But there may be more pictures than words in the days to come.

12 Days 'til Christmas...

We had a fun filled day yesterday introducing Grace to decorating Gingerbread Houses, and to ice skating - both she loved! I hope this holiday season is full of lots of wonderful memories and traditions for you and your family also!

Lingo

I had a deep thought on my way home from a playgroup this morning.

G and I had to make a couple of stops after we left our friends home, it was nearing 1 pm, and we'd yet to have lunch. I decided to pull in at a Wendy's drive-thru... until I read the sign that said cash only. I hardly ever carry cash. Already G in the backseat was requesting "Fries Mama!".

The only other option - McDonalds. Here's a little fact about me. I hate McDonalds. Yes, hate is a strong word and it's exactly how I feel about McD's. Last time I ate McDonalds was at least 2.5 years ago. It corresponds with me being just a few weeks pregnant and giving in to the craving of a McDonalds cheeseburger. All I'll say, is it did not agree with the babe in utero. I haven't eaten McDonalds since. Some things you just can't forget.

With no other options today though, I drove through McD's (wincing just a little, and thinking, WHY am I doing this??).

I get to the order window.

Me - "Um, can I have a milk please, a medium fries, and chicken strips."

See, that's where I went wrong. I guess McD's doesn't do chicken strips.

McD's Girl - "Can you repeat that last item?"

Me - "I'll just do Nuggets." Quickly scanning the "menu". "4 piece is fine."

I drive around the bend and come to the first window.

McD's Girl - "Do you just want a happy meal?"

Me - "No, because I'd like the medium fries."

At this point I get a look like "You don't come here often do you?"

I pay and move onto a second window (why do they have so many windows? Starbucks and Wendy's both only have one).

I get our order, go park the car, and divvy the nuggets and fries up between G and I. I take one bite of the nuggets and decide I just really can't eat this. Feeling a little bit terrible, I pass the nuggets back to G. She, having only been 8 weeks in utero, would have no recollection of the McDonalds experience.

She happily ate them, and the fries. I drank the milk.

But, the whole experience got me to thinking. We all have those places that we habit. Where we go, we know what to say, we order everything quickly, the teller understands what we are telling them, and it's an effortless experience, with no strange looks. For me, those places would be Starbucks (perhaps too frequently) and Wendy's (much more infrequently).

I have alot of places where I know I would not be understood. For instance, it was only a few months ago, thanks to a friend, I found out what the heck a Tim's Double Double actually was. For a long time, I had no idea. If you are curious, it's a coffee with two sugars, and two creams. I think.

My typical Starbucks order/lingo would be:

A Grande (not medium) Caramel Macchiato. (Essentially this is a vanilla latte with caramel drizzled on top).

Wendy's:

Chicken Strips and Fries with a soda - usually Pepsi or Ice Tea. They only make nuggets in the kids meals.

So I'm wondering, where do you habit? What is your lingo? Perhaps together we can start to make more sense. Or you can all help me to make more sense. I fully realize I may be the only person unable to place an order at McDonalds.

16 Days Til Christmas

Men don't Nest

Or at least, like alot of other aspects of pregnancy, it isn't discussed. Women "nest". We are ribbed about cleaning our pantries, dusting baseboards, madly scrubbing the floor, organizing baby clothes ten times over. (I've only done a few of those things...).

But I witnessed it today. Men nest. Nate, due to the nature of his work (he's a carpenter) is home alot during the winter months. He spent the better part of this morning, into this afternoon, fixing our gas fireplace.

We moved into our late 80's built home in 2002. The gas fireplace has never worked. And, no matter how infrequently it was mentioned how nice it would be if it did, we never got it looked at or fixed. For some unknown reason, Nate set about fixing it today.

There were phone calls with terms I have no idea what they mean. There were quotes that someone to even come over to look would cost almost $200. By 2 pm this afternoon, Nate had fixed it himself.

I have stayed pretty close to the fireplace for most of the day today. And I figure, I'm nestling into this room for the better part of the next two months.

Ok, I admit... perhaps he's not nesting... perhaps he's tring to keep me from nesting. This may have been a gentle lesson in teaching me how to be still. And, if so, it worked. But no matter nesting, or lesson teaching, I'm so pleased. And warm.

The time has come

No, no baby yet. The time has come where I'm about to give my first handmade gift this season. And I'm feeling a bit nervous about it. How will the receiver react? Will it seem like it's "enough" (financially speaking), will they notice how many hours went into that finished gift? And, as I've been feeling this way the past week or so, I stopped this morning to think about just how handmade this Christmas truly is for me.

This year I've:

Knit: 10 gifts
Sewn: 3 gifts

I've only purchased five. And I feel really good about that. I suppose I've supported alot of yarn companies rather than alot of big box stores, and I'm good with that too.

And I've realized something. With each hand knit that I bind off, wash, block, and wrap up, I have to also let it go. Let go of the hope, anticipation, of how the receiver will receive it. And just be glad that I've given. Of myself, of a love and passion that I have to create, and of my time.

With so many handmade gifts this season, Christmas seems more like what the season is truly about. Less about commercialism and more about celebration. There is no rush, no hustle and bustle, no dashing out to stores. Our home feels quiet, and ready. Nestled inside, and waiting.

In Love

With this man, who dug us out today. He is standing on the ground in this photo. Yes, the drifts were THAT deep!

And who flung snow at our watching Toddler resulting in fits of giggles. "More Daddy more!"

And, looking through these photos, I'm wondering, how did she get to look so three? I must have blinked.

Hunkered Down

Nate told me last night that we were going to be hit with a snowstorm.... was there anything I needed from the store incase we couldn't venture out today? One word. Coffee.

Good thing, because the storm has arrived and is going to bring 15 to 20 cm of snow today.

The view from our kitchen window.

We're nestled in with blankets, warm drinks and some movies. Good day to get some knitting done too.

And perhaps some cookie making. Sugar cookies perhaps. What's your favorite Christmas treat to bake?

Tomorrow

I'm thinking I'm going to:

• Go for a Caramel Macchiato. I've been wanting one all day today - tomorrow I'm going to indulge.
• Play in the snow with my little girl.
• Knit on some Christmas socks currently on my needles.
• Laugh, perhaps build a block tower, do some puzzles, and hang out with Grace's "friends" (a stuffed dragon, mouse, bear, frog and rabbit).
• Not logging into my computer until she's tucked into bed for the night. Not sure I've ever done this, but I'm thinking it's going to make for a really nice day, with a really special little girl.

What are you going to do?