a little inspiration

You: :Have moved in with your brother and seem to like it! Though you aren't sure why you have to sleep under the loft and not up there with him. :Are running everywhere.  Downhill has special sound effects. :Sign like crazy. In sentences and everything!  I should make a list... :Sing yourself to sleep. :Make scrunchy, kissy face. :Climb up and down the ladder on E's loft. Even in the dark. :Are really observant and sign to me all the animals (especially), vehicles, trees and other strange sights that you see. :Say "No!" and "Mine!" but so sweetly I don't mind too much. :Have started playing a make believe game where you are going to school and say "bye-bye" and close the door over and over. :Started resisting your own car seat and want to ride in Emerson's seat instead. :Want to go down the stairs without holding hands. :Have strong opinions about which way to go when we are driving (or walking for that matter.) :Love to ...

I'm a little knitting obsessed right now.  I just don't seem to be able to stop.  This morning I finished another Barley for John and already I've started a Clayoquot for Anjali.   Today is slightly cool and over cast.  I have several hours of work to do while the apartment is empty.  And, of course, I had to start a new project?  Clearly, there is something just a little bit wrong with me. Before either of those hats there was a sweater for Anjali completed.  I really love the patterns from Tin Can Knits (could you tell?) Even as a total novice knitter I feel empowered to start color work and pick up stitches and use DPN's like I know what I am doing.  This sweater didn't come out perfect (nothing has yet! :) but it is perfectly wearable and fits her great.  Cute as a button if I do say so myself. I made her the 2-4 year old size with shorted sleeves.  I'm hoping she'll be able to wear it next year with the sleeves at 3/4 ...

Has it been forever since I talked about her?  I feel like it.  Each day she grows so much you can tell the next day.  I think she is two inches taller than a month ago.  Suddenly reaching the edge of the counter with her little exploring fingers.  Reaching for whatever she can get.  Last night she climbed over the back of the high chair and into the seat for the first time.  Nothing is safe on the table now. She signs all the time, learning a new sign every day if you offer them.  Yesterday she woke up from her nap and earnestly signed, "Help. Want dog."  So very sweet.  And out we went to find a neighbor walking a dog to love on. She loves to walk and find friends at every stop.  She squats down and holds her hands out and rubs her fingers together to call to birds and squirrels and cats and dogs to come to her.  I will pet you, she promises.  I will be gentle.  I've never seen another toddler so gent...

 You: :Love to give hugs and kisses.Sometimes you hit so you can kiss and make up. :Are starting to say some words "bye bye", "all done", "mama", "meh" for Emerson, "eye", "hi", "night night" :Had your first trip to the beach. You're a little apprehensive about the water.  :Can climb into the car and into your car seat. :Run to the top of the stairs then stop, giving us heart attacks. every. time. :Stopped nursing two weeks ago. :Are getting walked to sleep a lot. :Still cry out in the middle of the night. :Miss Emerson when he is gone during the day. :Like to dance to music. :Come over and grab my legs and kiss them. :Bite. Stop it! :Are showing interest in sitting on the potty. :Have four molars coming in. :Are starting to carry your baby doll around a lot. :Still want to swing every day. :Learn more signs everyday and use some together.

You: :Sign bird, cat, swing, car/truck, wash, water, all done, more  and "I hear" by tapping your cheek near your ear. :Are getting frustrated with things and scaring me a little with your temper. :Will climb stairs all day long - big steps. :Love doggies a lot and all the other animals too. :Want to be outside. :Like to stick our keys in the crack in the door, over and over.  You laugh each time as if this is the most hilarious thing on the planet. :Love the swings. :Are giving out kisses. You click your tongue to get just the right sound. :Cry every night at midnight. :Love motorcycles and trucks. :Were frightened by the drive through car wash today. :Love to meet new people but also feel a little shy when they engage you full on. :Are practically running. :Are past the "easy" part of babyhood.  You are constantly on the go and into everything. :Have a great big brother whom you adore. :Are enjoying the magnadoodle at quiet time. {You weight...

These days are filled with wonder.  She invites me to walk with her with one finger pointed up.  She invites me to hold her with both hands out, twisted so her little elbows touch.  I can almost hear the request, "Hold me?" She loves to put on a necklace or my keys.  They bounce against her ankles as she walks.  She tries to put on shirts and sweaters on her own.  Over and over and over with no frustration.  She accepts help.  She toddles from place to place and tells a story as she goes.  She falls down and just crawls or gets up and goes again.  No frustration unless she is tired.  She seems to already know it is about the process, the journey.  She climbs everything she can.  She can get to the top of his loft ladder.  She is overjoyed as we are terrified. She loves small spaces.  You'll find her in the corner cabinet any time of the day.  She climbs into the toy bin.  She loves her brother. ...

You: :Are WALKING!! :Give the biggest, sloppiest kisses.  The other night you were nursing and stopped to kiss me and then started again.  So flipping cute. :Get angry about not getting the phone as a chew toy.  For real. :Just want to walk around and around at  night and so have a hard time settling. :Are drooling like a champ. :Like to climb onto stools, low chairs, into boxes and cabinets. :Love the porch.  You want to go out warm or cold, socks or bare.  Let's just get out there! :Crawl into the toy bins to sit with your things. :Are kind of a picky eater. :Like the legos and magnaformers almost as much as Emerson. :Love Emerson.  You want to go visit him after he has gone to bed and hug and kiss him all day.  You laugh at all his jokes.  You think he is amazing.  He is very proud of his little sister. :Put your finger out to ask to hold a hand for a walk.  So sweetly. :Have just realized we have stairs you can...

Proof of walking.  Look at her go.  I tried to get it the other way but of course she wanted to eat the phone and not walk when I tried.  So, turn your monitor or your head.  Enjoy!

Oh, my!  The weather, people, the weather!  Schools here are starting Saturday make up days now.  You know it has been crazy. Yesterday we were able to go outside and enjoy the not-so-freezing and not-much-snow-left super dirty muddiness.  Where it is actually pleasant to feel the things around you with your hands and with a few extra layers even a little little can crawl around without needing bread bags taped over her legs.  (I kid you not.) Emerson dug around a little and you could see under the leaves and dirt the plants are almost ready to start growing.  You could see the moss starting to fuzz up.  I am trying not to rush through, but you know, Spring is so much more alluring than the mud and snow.  And with a baby on the cusp of toddler-hood I know she'll be so excited to be down on the ground more. She is at the very-nearly-walking phase where you often turn around to find them taking a few steps surreptitiously.   An...

I must tell you I am still quite perplexed to find myself with a One year old baby.  How has this happened?  How could she still seem so small and baby-like ?  I am not sure if I am just delusional or if Emerson actually was farther along at this age.  He was really trying to walk I think, and that makes a difference.  Also, there wasn't a 4.75 year old to compare him to.  I know that makes her seem smaller. She is a delightful creature.  Full of smiles and jokes.  Easily frustrated and easily calmed. This was made using the same pattern for the hedgehog dress .  I still didn't cut the front and back pieces in two, just added a little extra in the front to make the gather.  Emerson picked the shoulder buttons and I came across these felt buttons I have had since E turned one.  I put them on to remind of a dog foot print as our party was, of course, a wolf party. I made this hoping it would be her birthday dress but it...

You: :Are such a dream come true. :Have four snaggly teeth on the top and two neat teeth on the bottom. :Just climbed onto a stool in the kitchen tonight for the first time.  ACK! :Like to "talk" now when you nurse.  Suck, suck, pop, "Dah blah dah?"  Suck, suck, pop, "Gah dah ma."  Suck, suck, pop, "Gah dah. Dah blah!" :Like to play with the dog.  You pick up her toy and hold it for her.  She comes over and gently takes it from you.  Repeat. :Like to eat but are already getting a little picky. :Crawl very fast and determined with a slap slap as your hands hit the floor. :Love to look at the yarn shelf... :Wrinkle your nose, show your teeth and sniff/laugh at things when you think it is a joke. :Love banana bread cake. :) :Get coy with your food. Turning away and sniff-giggling then coming back to do it again when we feed you. :Like to take apart your brothers magnaform creations. :Are getting really into taking books off the she...

Someone went exploring today.  Before this she had just been pulling all the things out.  I didn't realize she was moving it all so so she'd have room to get in. ;)

Sissie learned to go up stairs today.  She has likely been able to do it for a month or more but today was her first chance.  We have no stairs inside our apartment (which was one of the selling points.  After living in the big house we first moved to we realized that a home without stairs has many benefits.)  Anyway, it was amazing to see her size up the stairs and then just go for it.  We didn't have a chance to try down yet.  I imagine that will be next month. Today was the first day for E back at school after the holiday break.  I was afraid when I thought it'd be cancelled because of the polar vortex but luckily our teachers also felt it was time to start up again.  I was the parent teacher so it wasn't the kind of break I'm really ready for but it was still a wonderful morning. His school does a theme each month and now the kids do research projects each round and he drew the Arctic Ground Squirrel as his subject. (They are studying th...

After all the things I've made over the years, all the time sewing and crocheting and pattern making and altering you'd think a Christmas stocking would be a walk in the park.  Not so this one.  It took three attempts, one broken needle (!) and a trip to my favorite local fabric store, Kitsch , to make this incredibly simple stocking. If I remember correctly, when I made E's it wasn't so easy either.  In fact, his came out backwards.  What is it that is so hard about this simple project for me?  I've no idea. But it is a good metaphor for all the simple things I make hard for myself each and every day.  I know that sometimes I am just making it harder for me (because really, if you are making it hard for those around you who suffers? You got it.)  I've been trying really, really, REALLY hard to stop it.  Just stop completely and back off.  With any luck, by the time I'm 85 I'll have the hang of it.  I already know I am better at i...

You: :Just saw your first snow and were completely fascinated. :Have started standing.  And even letting go while doing it.  Your head is bruised and your mama is nervous, but you are strong. :Pushed a laundry basket around the room walking after it.  Holy goodness. :Love food and are ready to eat, eat, eat.  You pull my arm and grab things away from me. :Are crawling everywhere.  You look so cute, like a doll when you are crawling.  It kills me. :Love playing in the vertical blinds.  You are surprisingly gentle with them. :Climb on me and give me zerberts. :Crawl to outlets to pull out the "childproof" protectors and chew on them. :Think the dog bowl is your personal splash park. :Rub your feet together vigorously when you are excited. :Like dancing to music. :Smack your lips when you know you are about to nurse. :Have two teeth on the bottom and I can feel and see four on the top about to break through. :Love playing in your brother...

Pixie hat season.  And she is pulling up on everything.  And I can feel four teeth coming in on the top.  Oh my, the season is changing for her.

Every time scenes like this happen I melt.  Oh, how wonderful you two are to each other.  On this day we cleaned and cleaned and packed up the last bits at the old place.  Thank god for Stuart.  And Boba.  And Ianucci's.

You: :Are just very nearly crawling.  I've been saying this for months, but if I say it next month again I will eat my hat.  Thank you for waiting until after the move. :Have been fussy at night.  I think your tummy is bothering you. Oh yeah, and... :Have the bottom tooth cut through now.  Oiy, the teething seems awful. :Are so amazingly cute as you say "deedle, leedle, deedle" and "gable, able, able." :Make motor boat sounds as you scoot around the room.  This is hilarious. :Love mama to be close by.  Always and forever. :Don't love baby food. :Do love big people food. :Still have multi-colored eyes, but they are leaning towards brown. They remind me of agate. :Snuggle the pillow when you are sat down on the bed.  This proves you are my child. :) :Are trying to pull up on things.  This is leading to me thinking of buying a bike helmet for you. :Are a real screamer.  Wow, can you be loud. :Love to delicately explore things w...

The 24th got lost in there somewhere.  The baby has entered the magical age where she says, "Deedle, leedle, deedle," over and over.  Just like her brother.  John and I are so fawning over it and Emerson now knows why his pet polar bear is called Deedle and he is so proud.  Look at his wonderful writing!  I love to see this happening. She is 9 months in a couple days so I'll keep the big things to myself a little longer, but she is working and growing like crazy.  These swings are in our back yard.  You can't see, but his face was as joyful as hers.

 A few weeks ago we got out white t-shirts and just started drawing.  I think we both had a really good time and no one was harmed in the process.  It took time.  And then there were two fun new shirts he is excited to wear whenever he sees them.  I hear about kids who have distinct preferences on their clothing, those who will only wear one shirt or dress.  I am happy that Emerson's only display of that kind of behavior is a preference for hand made (or embellished.)  I know it won't be forever that he really likes the things I have made him, but I hope through the work we do together he will at least always be interested in making things for himself after he outgrows the love of mama-made.  Isn't his monster brilliant? The packing and getting rid of and organizing continues over here.  I am so thankful for school so that I may have a chance to do some alone and some with help.  Both kinds of packing and sorting are needed....