13 months!

Wow. What a difference a year, or even a day makes with little ones!

The chair doesn't seem too big for you anymore, Lorelai! We're on our toes all the time with you - as are you - two weekends ago you decided "I'm done with crawling." and that's it! You're walking all over the place and you are fast! Thankfully, you are a great sleeper, a good eater and have handled getting so many teeth without too much fuss. You are also a crowd pleaser - with all the traveling on Christmas you would enter the room and stick close to me or Daddy, but then when you learned the lay of the land you just walked and walked and walked and made certain that people noticed you!


Even with all the toys / dolls you received for Christmas, reading a book still seems to be your favorite thing! And you've started to hold it right side up (which I'm very glad to see) - you love the Very Hungry Caterpillar, the Boynton books (snuggle puppy & doggies!), Opposites with Oswald, this little nature book and a ladybug book. I hope you always love the books and I can't wait until you can read the story to me!


I found my practice socks I made while I was pregnant with you (I still have big plans to work my way through that Cat Bordhi book!) and they finally fit you! They are a little small, but they fit and thank you for letting me model them on your feet! I won't let you wear them in the house because they would be so slippery on our floors... someday I'll make you a better pair :)

So much love for you kiddo!

December 101 Update

(Whoops, missed November!)
--------------------------------------------------
Original post here. Updates: January, February, March, June, July, August
, September / October
---------------------------------------------------
I like a challenge. I love lists. I think this sort of list would be good to help me keep some focus (on me) now that the bulk of my focus is on my family. This list has been inspired by my family, friends, and the other lists in blogs I read...

Day Zero, Home of 101/1001 Project
The Mission
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

My List
Start date : 01 January 2008
End date : 28 September 2010

Key
Not yet started
In progress
Complete

1. Fill the large collage photo frames. (1/3)
2. Hang the photo-filled large collage photo frames (1/3)
3. Declutter: sell or give-away 101 material items I own (34/101)
-yarn, -clothes -books -house items
4. Learn to use the drop spindle. Completed: 3/11/08
5. Make enough yarn on the drop spindle to make a hat.
6. Learn to crochet. Completed: 8/30/08
7. Use crochet to make a simple amigurumi character.
8. Open a savings account for Lorelai and save $250 (250/250) Complete: 5/17/08
9. See 10 movies in the movie theater (5/10)
**1)Sex & The City
**2)Hancock
**3)The Dark Knight
**4)Mamma Mia
**5) Quantum of Solace
10. Submit my resume to the new science museum. Completed: 2/28/08
11. Attend a sheep and wool festival in CT
12. Go to the local farmer's market 15 times (4/15)
13. Submit photos to the Durham and Guilford Fairs each year (0/6)
14. Submit knitted objects to the Durham and Guilford Fairs each year (0/6)
15. Photograph Lorelai on the 30th of each month (13/33)
16. Cook one new recipe a month (12/33)
**"Chicken Bruschetta Bake" from the Stove Top Stuffing Mix Box. Just ok.**
**"Curried Lamb" from Woman's Day Magazine, crock-pot recipe. Bland.**
**"Stuffed Pepper Soup" copycat recipe of 99 restuarant recipe. Burnt the soup. Ick.**
**Turkey & Brocolli Casserole thing from Taste Of Home Magazine. Not bad.
**Mini Lamb Burgers with Couscous Salad from Real Simple - Delish!
**Baked Mac-n-Cheese with Chicken Sausage from "6 o'clock Scramble" online - yummy!
**Blueberry Cake from Cooking Light - ok, but all the blueberries sank to the bottom!
**Chrispy Chicken Romaine Salad - back of the bread crumb box - ok
**Blueberry Crumb Bars - not bad.
**Cranberry sauce - yum!
**Chai Spice Girl Cookies - pretty good
**Giada's Peppers stuffed with Orzo - not bad
17. Drink 2-3 Liters of water a day.
18. Write a letter to Koji and Noriko to tell them about Lorelai.
19. Knit a sweater for me that fits and I love. Glee!
20. Knit 30 socks (15 pairs) (9/30)
**Bartholomew's Sock #1 done 1/21/08**
**Bartholomew's Sock #2 done 2/4/08**
**Lenore Socks #1 & #2 done in 10 days! 2/14/08**
**Two wee socks (one for the wee sock swap) 3/30/08**
**Tidal Wave Sock #1 done 5/25/08**
**Sanrio Socks #1 & #2 done 9/30/08**
21. I want to make the “Heirloom Ring Blanket” for my mom. Deadline: December 2008.
22. Sign Up for the 100 Push Up Challenge
23. Complete the 100 push-up challenge: initial test, Week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
24. Update the blog once a week for a year. (12/52)
25. Go to four dachshund meet-ups. (2/4)
26. Make updated moo cards. Completed 10/15/2008
27. Make my own granola.
28. Get a routine physical with an internist. Completed 8/5/08
29. Get a body scan to check on the freckles / moles.Scheduled for Feb. '09
30. Go to the dentist twice a year (2/6)
31. Start doing yoga once a week, build up to three times a week.
32. Take Jackson for a walk daily, weather permitting. (Let's face it, he's a dachshund and doesn't fare well in cold, wet, or snow)
33. Save $1 for every item completed from this list.
34. Sew a pair of pajama pants.
35. Read 10 books. (10/10)
**1) The Good Good Pig
**2) The Memory Keeper's Daughter
**3) The Tender Bar
**4) You're Not You
**5) Water for Elephants
**6) Diary
**7) The Know-it-all
**8) Prince Caspian
**9) Smotherhood
**10) Redstripe
**11) In Defense of Food
**12) Garbage Land
36. Create a coordinated Halloween costume for Lorelai and Jackson. Complete 10/31/2008
37. I'm going to allow myself to purchase yarn with the condition that an equal (or greater) amount leaves the house.
38. Clean out and organize the junk drawers in the kitchen (2/2) Complete: 6/29/08
39. Write recipes on recipe cards as needed. No more torn out from magazine papers!
40. Send the grandparents a card / Lorelai photo once a month (9/33)
41. Post an Update of my 101 each month (9/33)
42. Grow plant / veggie garden from seed.
43. Grow 3 "new to me" plants / veggies each year (3/9)
**1) Broccoli
**2) Peas
**3) Corn
44. Give blood once a year. (0/3)
45. Read "The Killer Angels".
46. Try out peapod or other online grocery service.Complete: 1/2/08
47. Try out g-diapers.
48. Clean out email inbox and maintain so there's never more than 100 messages in there at a time.
49. Get a professional portrait of Lorelai. Adorable.
50. Buy 5 gifts from etsy.com each year (2/15)
**PrettyInPosies hair clips for Lorelai**
**Gift for Dan**
51. Clean out / organize the bloglines reader to remove blogs unupdated / uninteresting / topics /etc. once each year (1/3) 12/30/08 switched to Google Reader
52. Get back in shape to fit into my regular non-maternity clothes. All the maternity clothes are put away!
53. Bring old maternity clothes and newborn clothes to Beyond the Stork. Donated or put away
54. Replace the lights along the front walk. Complete: 6/8/08
55. Get back to at least my prepregnancy weight (minus an extra 5 - 7 pounds)
**As of 1/11/08 I'm down 28 pounds! 13 more to go to get to pre-preg.wt**
**11/4/2008 another 8 pounds to go.**
56. Buy a scale to keep an eye on #55.Complete: 1/15/08
58. Complete 20 projects using stash yarn (8/20)
**1) Snowman Hat **2)Bunny Cozies **3)Batman Hat **4)rattles **5)Abby's Hat **6)Abby's Mitts **7)Turn a Square Hat **8)Turn a Square, Squared
59. Knit 30 baby hats for charity, donate in Lorelai's name. (3/30)
60. Make my own sushi.
61. Make photocards for Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving on home computer.
62. See a Broadway show.Complete: 5/3/08 Macbeth
63. Visit New York City.Complete: 5/3/08
64. Snorkel in the British Virgin Islands.Complete: 4/22/08
66. Host a holiday dinner for the family at least once a year. (1/3) Easter '08
67. Garden indoors with the AeroGarden, maintain the water and nutrients.
68. Get a bikini wax.
69. Vote for president. Completed 11/4/2008
70. Listen to 8 audio-books. (3/8)
**1) Microthrills by Wendy Spero
**2) The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood
**3) Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner
71. Get my first tattoo
72. Go back to church
73. Knit three projects from each knitting book I own.
**Itty Bitty Hats a)Snowman Hat b)Bunny Tails Hat c)Upside-Down Daisy
**Mason-Dixon Knitting a)Baby Genius Burp Cloth
**Mason-Dixon Book 2 a)Toto potholder
**One Skein Wonders a)Flap Hat
74. Join a local mom+baby group.
75. Copy the phone numbers in my cell phone into my paper address book.
76. Reinstall itunes.Complete: 1/3/2008
78. See if the nerds / geeks can rescue the data from the Dell hard drive.
79. Get back on birth control. completed 1/13/08
81. Sort through the boxes brought home from school.
82. Fully update stash on ravelry.
83. Fully update books on ravelry.
84. Fully update needles on ravelry.
85. Set up an etsy shop. Complete: 6/27/08
86. Sell 25 items from etsy shop. (2/25)
87. Get a table / space at a local craft fair. Completed 10/18/2008
88. Knit Dan & Virginia's wedding afghan. Deadline: June 2009.
89. Knit afghan for me!
90. Re-read 10 books that I read when I was in grades 6 - 8. (1/10)
**1) Little House on the Prairie
91. Purchase a TerraPass / CO2 offset for my car / home / acrylic knitting.
94. Use the canvas / knit bags not plastic when shopping. This is a full time habit now
95. Try sign language with Lorelai - 5 signs (4/5) **1) More (we're working on Help, Thank You, and Drink)
96. Come in second in the fantasy football league. OMG, don't want to jinx it but as of 11/4/08 I'm #1! I won!!!
98. Eat vegetarian for a week.
99. Learn to make pancakes.
100. Eat out at 5 new restaurants (5/5)
**The Time Out Tavern, Durham, CT
**The New Deal Steakplace, Westbrook, CT
**Mia Dona, New York City
**Nellie Green, Branford, CT
**Miso, New Haven, CT
**Tuscany Grill, Middletown, CT
101. Smile everyday. Be a good example / role model for my daughter. Be a good wife to my husband.

I've got my eye out to replace these:
97. Read more than just the Art section of the New York Times Weekend Edition (\2\4/143) - No time to read this anyway.
93. Embroider a onesie for Lorelai. - she grows too fast for those onesies. Make her a sweater. Or toys.
92. Knit all holiday gifts by December 13. - Not realistic for a knitter that thinks she'll make more hats on Christmas Eve for gifts.
77. Expose myself to new music: Listen to one new artist a week (3/143)
80. Write a letter a month (2/33)
65. Try 10 recipes from Alton Brown's "Good Eats" (0/10)
57. Rediscover my yarn stash - pair up 20 new projects with stash yarn. (8/20)

On a More Serious Note

My heart is a little heavy - two separate friends have had to deal with some rough news of family deaths, last week a local 15-year old committed suicide. Today clicking through my blogs I came across this post: here.

That led me to this: To Write Love on Her Arms.

I just want to give everyone I know a big hug.

Christmas in Motion

Does it happen any other way? The Holidays always seem to be a blur to me - we always travel. I have forever gone to Rhode Island and back to CT multiple times. Dan's family is from Long Island. They always travel. For us it was RI on Christmas Eve, back to CT to do our Christmas, down to Long Island for Christmas, back to CT for another Christmas. I'm exhausted. It's all good - everyone in the families gets along and it's a good time - lots of food and interesting stuff like that - but I also feel like I missed so much of what I'm used to (sitting back and just observing family dynamics) - because either Dan or myself were watching Lorelai the entire time. Sure, everyone wants to see her, but they will turn away when she does, they aren't watching her 3 steps ahead to see the full soda can in her reach, or the glass dish full of popcorn, or the knife... It's all good though.

Classic Christmas Eve Dress:


Ready for traveling (outfit by Auntie VIK - big hit!)


Lorelai has decided she's done with crawling. She just wants to move! She was appropriately spoiled - clothes & books & and noisy toys (that are tolerable) and a gorgeous handknit from Aunt Virginia that deserves its own post!

I'm excited for a few gift certificates to LYSs and 2 new knitting books and the Yarn Harlot page-a-day calendar. I'm working on my knitting new year resolutions (I'm thinking about knitting 100 balls of yarn, personal sock club, etc).

And I'm pooped. I want to go and play with my yarns. I've promised a certain 9 year old a guitar strap and it's overdue. And unfortunately some bad news has come his way... And I want to work up some preemie hats for the "Save the Children" "Knit One Save One" campaign (how did I miss that in 2008?)

Christmas Catch-Up

(Maybe I should make a resolution to not title my posts with "catch up" I feel like a use that a lot!)

First off, a big big Thank You! to Amy - she had a contest on her blog and while I didn't win, I was a close second! She sent me a great package!

There's the Earthbound Organic Cookbook that I can wait to try out in the next few weeks, RetroKnits - this book is a hoot! And I think I have found a few items to knit up! and altfiber - OMG, fantastic! And she sent three of the most fragrant soaps from Two Rivers Soap - they are fantastic, and reading their website - Fair Trade, Secret Pal friendly!! So of course, now I'm thinking of knitting soap sacks, in a retro pattern with alt-fibers! :) Thank you again, very much Amy!

I was working on a pair of Plum Blossom Mittens for me!

But, there are issues. They are a bit too snug (so I guess I'll make the L instead of the M), the cuff needs to be longer and I think also a bit more snug there so I'll go down a needle size. I haven't given up on them, but they are in a time-out.

I finished all my Christmas gift knitting - wove in the last of the ends on the second pair of the hot-hands / potholders. I really want a pair, so I will make them eventually.

I made Dan a hat and it worked up so quick that I was bit by the "I can make these for Christmas Gifts!" - Yeah, that was December 22. I did make 2 hats, but I was sidetracked by the ends to weave in that in the end we're keeping both hats. For now. I have nothing but love for Brooklyn Tweed and the Turn A Square hat. Works up SO fast! I used one skein of Lamb's Pride to get the black for both hats! The blue is Cascade220 (Dan's hat) and the other is a red-orange yarn I bought from a Farmhouse Yarn bin sale (no tags on the yarn). Love love love love!
Turn A Square:

Squared:

I think I'll still make hat #3, the yarn is out and staring at me. Plus then I can call it "Cubed" (geek flag!). Anyway.


And that's that. I think we're caught up! Yay!

Avoiding the chills

It's cold out and we're surrounded by 6-8 inches of snow and ice. I don't mind, and I'm not complaining. I like New England winters - sure they are unpredictable, but when the first snowflakes start to fall it is just so pretty out! And as long as there is snow, it makes the cold worthwhile. It was a good weekend for knitting - I started and finished my Abrazo from the Fall '08 Knitty.


I made the medium size / 36" and it only took 2 skeins of Kathleen (colorway: Betty Friedan) - I have yet to go back and crochet around the arms / neck edges (I may just skip that) so I even have some leftover! And talk about a quick knit, I cast this on Thursday afternoon, had 11 inches done by the end of SnB and was weaving in ends on Saturday night. Sweet. I wore it all day yesterday - it's just right - doesn't feel bulky or anything!

Lorelai has started, in her own way, playing dress up. Many times during the day she will put on a teething ring as a bracelet (most often the red one). We were folding laundry on Friday and she clung to my fleecey pajama top - so I draped it over her shoulders like a little cape and she seemed to like it. I hope it wasn't that she was cold!


I've gotten a bit of the crazy-last-minute-knitter bug - wasn't planning on it, but I think I can get two (or 3) hats done so I'm knitting away like a mad woman. If it works I will rock!

Tickled

First off, Congrats to Theatreknitter and Piccologirl on their becoming "official" aunts! Not that they were any less special as Aunts to any of the children that surround them, but their sister had her baby, Patrick, yesterday! Yay for babies!

Second, I've taken a break from my must-do knitting (super secret project, CPH sleeves, Dan's hat, Christmas gift, etc) and cast on for Abrazo from knitty. As part of my payment for knitting for Schaefer yarn, I received yarn to make this vest. I wound up one hank last night and ran out of yarn at SnB! I've got about 11 inches done already!

Now I've got the bug and just want to keep knitting this to finish it!

For the most part in the house I don't put much on Lorelai's feet - she tears off the socks anyway and she has better balance / grip when she's barefoot. When we go out I do put tights / socks / shoes on her. I got her to wear little boots last night. Dan brought her home and he put away her shoes with all the rest we I leave there. So cute!

Finally the knitting!

I started and finished this hat last week. Lion Brand Thick & Quick held double - great for stash busting. Super quick too. And good for impressing new knitters at a local yarn shop. I thought maybe it would work for Dan, but the color (Nantucket - a grey-green) and detail (cables) make it too girly for him. It's as warm as all get out though. I'm thinking that I will make another hat or two with this yarn and donate them.


I also finally found the inspiration for my cousin's christmas gift. I made the "Flap Hat" from One Skein Wonders and 220 Fingerless Mitts from "Itchy Fingers". The yarn was found in the stash - two skeins worth. I bought it at a sale at a Farmhouse Yarns - stuff a bag sort of deal. It was great to rediscover it - not only are the colors the best combination of pinky-purple and purpley-black, but it's soft! I wish I knew better what it was so I could look for it again. Anyway, for the hat I held the yarn doubled, working from 2 skeins. I used the leftovers from one skein to make the fingerless mittens (flittens, don't you know!) and will probably make a second pair for me from the leftovers of the other skein. They are just simple goodness and I adore them. I hope my cousin likes them! The hat fits me and Lorelai, so it should be good to go for the recipient.

Lorelai was being silly - we're in a NO! hats phase - she's yanked off everything I have put on her head (I've got yarn and plans to knit her a toasty topper next). I popped the hat on her today and she played with it a bit, then crawled off! That's a record 2 minutes! Interesting.


I have also finally finished my Hemlock Ring Blanket! This is a birthday gift for my mom... (Who I don't think knows / reads my blog.) It's all pinned out on my dining room table. It's still small, I followed the original instructions to row 87 and stopped there. Lap blanket, shoulder wrap, whatever. It's soft and warm. And a lovely shade of blue. I think she'll like it.
From this:

To This:

I probably could have been even more aggressive with the blocking, but I was trying to pin while cookies were baking. (Some days multi-tasking isn't really worth it.)

Cookies! These are Chai Spice Girl Cookies that was in a recent Better Homes and Garden issue. I'd like to thank Pillsbury Toaster Strudel for training me in the art of frosting piping.

Until I gave up and just started spreading frosting as I saw fit:



I gave one to Lorelai and she went right to the frosting. That's my girl!

The Lorax

I love this news article about "The Lorax" being popular again. It has long been a favorite book of mine and it is also now a pet name for Lorelai - she's "The Lorax". She'll probably hate that nickname years from now, but it has stuck (more than anything else - we like Lori and Rory as nicknames, but they sound strange when used in reference to her)

Speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues!

Bumped and Bruised

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by nutmegknitter

I was planning to blog about the hats I've finished, the mittens I've started (they are mine and they are going to rock), the fetchings I've started (to match the hat) and the little dress for which I finally have buttons. I was interrupted, as one happens to be when there is a toddler around.

I went to get Lorelai up from her nap this morning and I noticed there were some spots of color on her plain off white crib sheet. Did she just drool? Did she split her lip? Did she have a bloody nose? I'm trying to figure out what happened and she's the same as she always is after a nap - happy, chatty, moving. I flipped her upside down to get a better look at her mouth and nose when I see the gash on her forehead. Her hair totally hides it and the vertical purple bruise she has above the gash. It's mostly superficial, she doesn't seem sensitive to touch. But still, it threw me for a loop.

I did call the doctor (because if I didn't and I should have I would hate myself for ever. I'm smart - I'm pretty sure she's fine, but I didn't go to med school.) And they tell me she's probably fine (see?! I told myself so) but to watch for vomitting and unusual sleepiness.

She ate lunch (tortellini, fruit, milk & nilla wafers) and was completely all about her business afterwards. She's fine. Kids get bruises. And bumps. I've been trying to figure out what happened - maybe it's from the crib? Maybe when she pulled in the turtle? But I see no evidence on the turtle shell or crib. I need one of those CSI kits.

Lorelai, I'm sorry you got yourself banged up today. I'm sorry for this terrible photo of you, but the ones where you're sitting up and looking cute, you can't see the booboo!

A Musical Distraction

(In a knitting nutshell: I've started a DreamSwatch Head Wrap - it's cute, probably I'll keep it. I've started an earflap hat with some rediscovered yarn I got at a Farmhouse Yarn Sale. I'm about to start that black cable hat that was on the Chum the other day, in some other yarn. Dan offered to me that I could go out knitting tomorrow and thursday! I may go to the Yarn Basket on Wednesday...Links and photos and such later.)

If you're at a holiday party and need some "small talk" or conversation starters, ask people what their LEAST favorite holiday songs are :) Or their favorite, but I've found it makes good conversation. Here are my lists:

Ten Favorite Holiday Songs - Beware, earwoms!
1. The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole (only this version! I heard a version by Toni Braxton yesterday and couldn't stand it! I love everything Nat King Cole sings)
2. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan
3. Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy - Bing Crosby & David Bowie
4. Blue Christmas - Elvis
5. Do They Know it's Christmas? - BandAid
6. Carol of the Bells
7. I Wonder as I Wander - Joan Baez (My dad used to always play this record, Noel, when we decorated the tree. I actually liked most of it. This is the soundtrack of my childhood Christmases - this and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.)
8. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
9. Happy Xmas (War is Over) - Plastic Ono Band
10. Christmas is All Around (ok, it's from "Love, Actually", but it's cute)
And there has to be #11 The Charlie Brown Christmas and #12 Muppet's Christmas

Ten Least Favorite Holiday Songs - Beware, bigger earworms!
1. Dominic the Donkey
2. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
3. Jingle Bell Rock
4. Little Saint Nick - The Beach Boys
5. Santa Baby
6. Christmas Don't Be Late (The Chipmunk Song)
7. Mariah Carey Christmas Songs
8. All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth
9. Twelve Days of Christmas (the version where kids are whining and the lights are blinking and all that.)
10. Frosty the Snowman (just not a huge fan of this one... it's more tolerable than the others here).

What would you add / change?

Pajama Day!

Pajama Day!
Originally uploaded by nutmegknitter

We woke up to see snow-frosted trees this morning and some snow on the ground - enough for the plows to come out! Dan made waffles for breakfast and we all stayed in our pjs for a while. Dan and I changed (though I'm still in sweats) but the Lorax will be hanging out in these duds. They were gifted to her last year and I held on to them hoping she would fit them someday (they are GAP, 3-6months!).

I'm in a funk today as I also woke up with a sore-throat, body aches and runny nose. Bleh. There's little google work available, I don't feel like doing the amazon turks, and even my knitting I"m just not excited about at the moment. I'm pushing myself to knit a little on each WIP, just to keep them all moving. And I do need to decide on flittens for my cousin and get them started! - it's looking more and more like I'll just do Fetchings for her due to time issues.. but I did come across Genmaicha today and I love it - I've got lots of sock yarns to pick from!

Psst!

Can you ask Santa to bring me some toys and treats?

525,600 (whatevers) and then some

Diapers, spit-ups, wipes, drools, mushy foods, pictures, smiles, moments of awe, reading books, games of peek-a-boo....



My baby is one! And a few days at this point, but that's ok, because we totally focused on her on her birthday (which was this past sunday). No longer a baby, we've entered "Toddler" stage, and even "Wobbler" stage as she finds her footing and is walking more and more steps every day.


Look at that, eyes closed. Daredevil she is.

We celebrated her birthday on Thanksgiving, because all the family was in one spot. Birthday cake was a chocolate-cheesecake-cupcake made by Aunt Virginia - delicious and not a huge mess (on her face. her dress has chocolate smudges everywhere.)


Here she is with her singing Care Bear


I'm just about beyond words for my little girl. I can't believe it's been a year. I can't believe that we made it - she's happy and healthy, we've gotten to sleep and vacation and go out to eat, we've proven to ourselves that we are good at this parenting thing, we still have the dog... And I know there's only more to come!

Like today, she climbed into the dog's chair all by herself (no using the play table as a step stool like she did at the couch. Guess she's figuring out how to use her height to her advantage.) Jackson was basking in the sun so luckily he didn't mind too much.

General FUBAR.

Only not so much. Sorta.

I have to make a post about Lorelai - she's now 1! That is special enough for it's own post and it's coming.

So, on Sunday, my iPhone stopped working. Sorta. The top half of the screen wouldn't respond to any touch. Monday the Lorax and I took a trip to the Apple store and they were fantastic - replaced my phone no problem. Great, I think. I get home, sync it up, everything is updated, super. Except. I can't get my email. Well that's no good because that is one of the best features of the phone. I do a little googling and it seems that the latest software update can be the cause for some glitch in that area. So, I restored back to when my phone wasn't working (sunday). It finally reloads and now, a good portion of my applications are missing! For the most part it's not a big deal to get them back, just annoying. And now I don't really want to hook the iPhone back up to iTunes in case I have solved the email issue. Grumble grumble.

Have a brownie with me?

Did I already post this? My Edge brownie pan - it was an early Christmas gift from Dan - and by the way, it makes the best brownies EVER! You can use the box mix (I love quick brownies) too!