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!!!

Nada

I've got nothing. It's been a month, that's for sure. Since coming home from Denmark, we've been rather tight on cash since I didn't work for three weeks last month. Add to it the stress of the holidays and our rabbit Willow passing suddenly and you have a stressed out family.

Willow, our dear bunny, passed a few weeks ago, as I said. It wasn't unexpected, but just surprising. He was a very old rabbit, eight years, and his health had been deteriorating over several months. Robbie and I have been dealing with it fairly well, but Elodie is still very confused about where Willow went. We've tried to explain that he's in a better place (she wants to go to a better place, too, apparently), that he was sick and died (now she's worried that she's going to die because she's sick), and that he's gone to live with Nan (when's he coming back?).

For what it's worth, Willow was a great rabbit with lots of personality. The first time I held him, he unbuttoned three buttons on my shirt and attempted to undo my jeans button. I promptly accused Robbie (who I was not yet dating) of training his rabbit. He would make houses for himself out of blankets, adored carrots and would knock your hand over for attention.

He had silky-smooth fur and his eyes were both half blue, half brown. When you scratched between his ears, his eyes would slowly droop until he was fast asleep.



Christmas knitting is going forth steadily, hence the lack of pictures. Half my recipients read the blog (I think), and so I can't exactly go touting the amazingness of me on the blog with their presents displayed for all to see. Trust me. The amount of knitting is startling.

In happy news, my cousin Martin and his wife, Rikke, shown previously in this post, are the proud new parents of a 8.5 pound baby girl! I wish them all the best!

A little plug here before I bid you all adieu. The Natural Bardo is creating the most beautiful laptop holders. If anybody is looking for a unique and functional piece of art for your desk, check these out. They'd make great Xmas presents, too, for that hard-to-buy-for someone. Don't I know someone like that...

Finally, folks, I must get back to work. This recession thing sucks, but I get paid in American dollars. So there's something to owning your own business and having the Canadian dollar plumet suddenly. The more I work, the bigger my "bonus" when I head to the bank to cash the check. Definitely appreciated.

(EDITED TO ADD: Keep knittinggrammy and her husband in your thoughts. Her hubby had quite a fall, and he's going to be off his feet for a long, long time. If anybody knows of any patterns for a cast cover, send them along to her.)

Denmark, in (Limited) Pictures

Unfortunately, during our trip to Denmark, the camera was not working for a good portion. *sob*

Here are a sampling of the 50 pictures I did manage to take on the three days I managed to take them.

The first day in Denmark, we visited my grandmother's grave site



We made sure to go to the lake



We took Elodie to an old Lutheran church (her first time in a church, actually).



Every Danish Lutheran church has a ship, with the front facing the front of the church.



We checked out the ocean



We went to the aquarium in Esbjerg where we saw them feed the seals



And Elodie enjoyed the Maritime portion of the museum.



Elodie played with my cousin's kids (all but two of the ten cousins on that side have kids now).



We had dinner at a different family member's house every night. My disgustingly handsome cousin, Martin, and his wife, Rikke, treated us like kings on our night there.



It was mostly a trip of hanging around Bedstefar's house, enjoying the garden and moody weather.



Bedstefar spoiled Elodie to no end. She got ice cream every night.



It was a little cold in the mornings.



But when the sun came out, it was glorious.



We played hide and seek in the forest. Turns out that it's not my dad's strong suit (you can see him in red behind the tree).



I was sad to see that my favourite forest is dying.



But there's still life.



And some beautiful scenery, of course.



It was a great trip, although I'm totally sick now. It always happens when I fly. I catch some awful cold from a fellow flier. Ick. I knit a whole bunch, and hopefully I'll have pictures of the completed projects (plural!!!) before the week is through.

Off to see the Wizard

This time next week, I'll be (hopefully) safely on the ground, in a rental car, driving toward my grandfather's house. I'm SO excited!!!!!

Bedstefar went through surgery with flying colours. He's sore, but he's doing well. I'm packing a few cookbooks, and I'm going to play the part of lovely hausfrau while staying there. Elodie's passport is ready for pickup in the morning (hopefully), and then we get a commissioner of oaths to sign a letter saying that Elodie can fly out-of-country with me (thankfully, we know a few of them), and we'll be all set!

It's been a generally slow week, knit-wise. I did, however, try out the new Mach 1 Spinolution at Make 1. HOMG. I want. I lust. I desire. Let's just say that within five minutes of sitting down at the thing, I was spinning laceweight out of camel/tussah. Did I mention that I lust?

The drive is amazing, it just goes and goes and goes. It's so quiet and lovely. Sure, it's not the prettiest wheel, but who the heck cares? It's BREATHLESS. Or maybe that's just me. I love it. Anybody wanting to donate to the "buy Kayla a Mach 1" fund can just send me a check for $500. Or more. More is always good.

So, current projects, I'm done half of two pairs of socks (read: one sock from each pair), half through a mitten of a pair of thrummed mittens for myself, cast on a mitten for a pair for Elodie, half through the back of a sweater and halfway through three lace shawls. I'm sure there's more projects somewhere.

The thing is, I don't mind having all these projects. I have quite a few Xmas presents to do this year (although less than last year), and by starting them all at once, I seem to feel like I'm going to actually finish them. I'm sure the same thing will happen this year as happened the last two years. I'll be the one up at 2:00 a.m., knitting furiously on ONE LAST GIFT, mentally planning the family breakfast we have every year at our house (sure to be attended by no less than 14 people this year, but probably closer to 30 - not including Robbie, Elodie and myself) on Xmas morning.

I also already have knitting projects planned for after the holidays. My mom recently took a trip to Prairie Fibre Mill, run by Sheila Spurling-Law, who she went to high school with, and brought by $140 worth of llama/merino/silk blend yarn for me to knit her a sweater (and hat and scarf and mitts) out of. Since I'm all about the process and not so much about the product, I can't wait! The sweater itself will be boring (in my opinion) since it doesn't have cables or patterning. It's just a plain sweater with shaping and perhaps a button on the v-neck. Simple, no?

Okay. It's nearly midnight, and I have a passport to pick up in the morning, not to mention three bathrooms to clean. I've got to work on blogging during the day and not in the dead of night.