Happy Birthday to you.

Guess whose birthday it is tomorrow?

That's right! Elodie is turning three! I don't know how time has possibly flown this quickly. Elodie entered the world in a daze of lights and noise, and she's entirely consumed our world ever since. It seems that just yesterday, we looked met our gummy little walnut of a baby, and now she's grown up into a real, live person! Parenthood was the last thing on our minds at that time, and now it's all we think about.

Is she eating right, is she learning her manners, will she function well in school, is she getting enough Vitamin D? How are we going to instill responsibility in her, and how will do we possibly let her go to school one day, and will the kids be mean? What do we do when she gets hurt or cries, how do we make everything perfect and safe?

It seems like I've never been questioned so much in my life (why, why, why?), and there are days when I think back to the days of sleeping in, staying out late, spending all my money, and I miss it. But then I think, well, sleep is for suckers, staying out late is for conformists, and I didn't have all that money to begin with. Life is much better now.



Elodie runs now, which is such an amazing change. I know that it doesn't seem like a big deal, since she's been running for since she was 16 months old, but I mean, she outstrips me. She's FAST. It's amazing that our helpless baby has such motor control that she can draw a face -- albiet a wonky, gibbled face, but I digress. She can comb her hair, is learning to tie knots, and can button her own clothes. She picks out her outfits, has distinct color preferences (pink generally will out), and I think if she could surround herself with a million cats, she would.

She understood what Christmas was this year. She learned about Santa and that he was going to bring her gifts. She got excited about the tree, the lights, the food, the family. She still begs to wear her Christmas dress. She loved decorating, wrapping presents, singing Jingle Bells, her stocking, the snow globes -- everything.

Of course Robbie and I were pooped after Christmas, but she just asked if we could do it again.

She also has become a pet owner. This is Star, her new pet mouse. She loves her, and she feeds her and helps clean the cage and gives her fresh water. She likes holding her, and she's so very gentle (most of the time). Although she's interested as to why Mommy and Daddy refuse to let her show the kitty her new mouse, she at least accepts that the kitty and Star would not play well together.

Of course, there are the procession pictures:

Newborn:

First:

Second:

Third:

I can't express in something as simple as words how grateful I am that she is my daughter, that I am her mother, and that we are learning and growing together each day. Thank you, Elodie, for being such a brilliant, beautiful daughter. I love you.

Long Time Gone

I've been gone. For a long time. Hence, the title of my thread.

Many, many developments. So. Where to begin? Christmas came and went to great success. I sent home socks with my grandfather and mother, mitts to my dad, a scarf to my grandma. They are enjoying their new homes. I also found out that my grandmother used her Stolen Moments Wrap from last year to tie her bumper back onto her car when it fell off one day. I believe me initial reaction was "You used an angora/merino scarf to retie on your bumper? Are you INSANE?!", but grandma insists that the scarf was gently washed afterward and suffers no ill effects.

After much humming and hawing, I applied for a job outside the home. While I didn't get the full-time position originally sought, I was offered a casual position, and I've worked 160 hours in the last month and a half doing it. The steady income in nice, and I'm also able to continue doing my own job. Further to this, it's freed up considerable knitting/spinning/crafting time in the evenings. Much obliged.

Elodie went back into a dayhome. I can't say I'm thrilled. She sobs each morning when she finds out she can't stay home with Mommy. I love the kid to bits (obviously), and this new dayhome is not as good as the last one. It breaks my heart to leave her there each morning.

As far as knitting, once again, no pictures. I just haven't had any daylight time to take those pictures, and so I'll have to do that now that the days are getting brighter and longer. The sun is a much-welcomed sight.

Currently, I've got four things on the needles:
1) Pair of socks
2) Sweater for mom's birthday (April 25th! I still have two sleeves to do. Can I make it? I'm seriously questioning my sanity on this one).
3) Veil of Isis for my cousin's fiancee. They're getting married in March, and this is my surprise gift to her. It's going to be cashmere!!!
4) Robbie's Urban Aran Cardigan. I cast this on in November, and it's just taking a while. Only the sleeves left now (and seeming, of course).

I've started all my seeds for this summer's garden. We've got pumpkins, broccoli, cauliflower, zucinni, peas, beans, carrots, beets, corn and potatoes. I can't wait for my fresh garden produce. I'm also considering doing some strawberries, but I've always killed them off in the past.

Elodie turns three on the 30th, and I can't believe how quickly she's growing. She has officially got her own pet now. Robbie and I bought her a little wee mouse last Saturday, and she's SO in love with it. She's named it Star (I'm so glad she stopped naming things by their actual name - mouse, cat, dog, puppy, etc). Each night before she goes to bed, she holds it, makes sure it has water, food and timothy hay, and then she wishes it good night and goes to bed. Also turns out a mouse is super easy to take care of.

My Bedstefar has a little run into the hospital last month. He was up and about, getting his lawn all ready for spring, and he ended up having a minor stroke. He's okay, but it still reminds me that each moment I've had the priveledge of spending with him is precious. I'm still really afraid that this past November will be the last time I'll have seen him alive.

Well, I'm back. I promise I'm back. I will be back. Next time, hopefully, with pictures!!!