Happy Mother's Day

I used to think Mother's Day was overated. The cards, the flowers, waxy chocolates purchased at the very last possible moment before mum woke up to eat the overcooked scrambled eggs and gulp down the watery coffee. It all seemed so commercial. And then, I woke up to this and it all changed my mind:

I still think Mother's Day is a bit of a scam- one day to celebrate our mothers, like them or not, and then forget to call, visit, or otherwise thank them for all the time, effort, money, and love they poured into our lives. I realize that this may upset a few mothers out there, and I'm okay with that. I'm not against Mother's Day itself, just the idea that we only need to honor them one day a year. 

Let's remember why we are mothers, let's remember why we love and appreciate our mothers. Let's take this day and stretch it out a little longer than one short season.

To my own mother- I love you. Thank you for helping to shape me into who I am today. Thank you for teaching how to be a mother to my own child. I love you.

New Home

Today our little family moved into a lovely new apartment with enough room for play, dining and breathing. I'm sorry it's been so long since I have last updated this blog, but I want you to know it hasn't been forgotten. I'll try to post again next week......

Pictures

Today is Thursday and a little wonky. Not that all of my Thursdays are wonky, but I think this one will be. Alex worked the early shift today so he had to get up at 4am. Michael decided this would be the time that he also would wake up. So, here we go again. I got up to feed the boy and then we snuggled for a bit. Actually, we snuggled a lot, because when I finally woke up and looked at the clock it read 9:47am. Wow, I was more exhausted than I thought.

So now we are both up and fed and getting started on our day. Right now, Michael is talking to the little boy in the mirror and practicing his crawling skills. That's right, he's crawling now! And teething. Oh the teething. I think I may need a vacation from the kid before they come in- the crying, the drool, the late nights. Oye. He is sitting up on his own now too- it's amazing how fast he is growing. Every week he is doing something new.

He is kind of starting solids- not too sure about them yet

Learning to use a napkin after meals (you're welcome to his future wife...)

Making new friends

Dying Easter eggs!

We have started going to the park (he's not sure about the sunglasses, but I think they are rather cute...)

And of course, we are teaching him to read- this is my favorite children's book The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

I would love to write more, but Michael has a cat toy stuffed in his mouth...Love to you all, and I'll try to write again soon.

I Wouldn't Trade This For Anything

Life has been a little busy since we brought Michael home. A typical day with him looks something like this:

7am: Daddy and Mama finally fall into something that resembles sleep when we hear the familiar cooing and slapping of feet in the crib. Mama wakes up and goes to tend the we one.

9am: The wee one has been fed, changed, snuggled, and is now talking to the cat and playing with his toes.

11am: For the past two hours, Michael has been chatting away. He has been fed, changed, snuggled, taken outside for a walk, and been told at least three times that he is extremely cute.

2pm: I'm not sure who invented the idea that babies should be placed on a nap schedule as early as possible, but I think that they should meet our son. For the past three hours, he has been screaming ad crying his little heart out to anyone that will listen- with walls as thin as ours, that would be at least two of our neighbors. He has been fed, changed, snuggled, told stories to, walked around, and given many kisses.

5pm: After a forty seven minute nap, Alex is home now and I'm off to work.

7pm: Michael has been fed, changed, snuggled, walked, fed again, and much to the dismay of his daddy, is still wide awake and very grumpy.

9pm: I'm home from work and both daddy and child are in tears and in great need of mama.

11pm: Michael has been fed, snuggled, in fresh clothes (again) and is now sleeping again.

1am: There is stirring from the crib- looking over, there is Michael smiling and waning to eat again.

5am: Michael has been snuggled, fed, changed, walked around, burped and put back into his own bed.

8am: I finally feel like I'm falling asleep when I hear the familiar slapping of feet and cooing. As exhausted as I am, I wouldn't trade this for anything.

In Case You Were Wondering

I've been informed that it has been some time (read: over a month) since I have last posted anything onto this blog. So, here goes. This post, brought to you with love by moi.

How To Infuriate a Knitter:

1) Drive by any building that has the words "wool, knitting, or sheep" in them.

2) Hide the knitting.

3) Should the Knitter in your life spend 47 hours of their life on a pair of intricately cabled socks, be sure to wear them exactly once before claiming that "they are not really your color".

4) When cleaning the house, be sure to deposit the knitting within reach of small sticky children and the cat. Extra anger will be guarenteed if this is done to projects worked in very expensive fibers.

5) Plan all of your family vacations with a route that does not pass by any of buildings that contain the words "wool, knitting or sheep".

6) After putting on the sweater that your Knitter stitched for 5 months, take extra care to find only the pointiest nails that you might unravel it upon.

7) Create a knitting budget and then be sure to put a limit of $5 or less. This is sure to do the trick; no knitter can follow that.

Happy Birthday to Me

Good morning my knitting (and non-knitting) friends! Today is my birthday; I won't tell you how old I am (partly because I stopped counting, and mostly because now that I have a child, I need to conserve my few remaining brain cells for more important information). Last night was lovely. When I came home from work, this is what greeted me at the door:

Michael bought me a birthday card :)

These are from my Uncle and Aunt- they really add a lovely spot of colour to our stoop.

Among the cards and gifts was the book Unbroken. It was on my wishlist, so this is very exciting. It has  been a lovely birthday and it's almost over. It's past eleven-o-clock at night and I'm finally able to finish this post (it was started sometime this afternoon), but each moment is being savored, like a piece of fine chocolate. My husband and son are snuggled up in the bed together and fast asleep, there is a bit of knitting on the needles for a dear friend of mine, and the promise of a new day is just around the corner. Until next time, goodnight.

A Letter

Dear Elizabeth,

We need to talk. I know, those are the four words no woman ever wants to hear, but I feel they must be said. You see, you cast me one well over a year and a half a go an I'm still waiting to be cast off. I remember when we first met. It was a lovely spring day when you sat down in front of your computer and started going through the photos. You wanted to find "the one". That special fiber that you would spend a pretty decent chunk of your life with. And then, after about an hour of waiting, you found me.

I was there on your screen almost pleading that you give me a chance. So many others just looked at me once and went the other way in search of something better. But you were different. One look at is was love at first sight. Sure, I'm a cheap superwash and the yardage isn't so great, but you saw what was inside; you saw the sweater that would be knit for your sister.

After you placed the order and put a small hole in the checking account (did you ever tell Alex about that?) you gathered the remaining supplies you would need for our relationship- needles, stitch markers, pattern. You also cast on another project while you awaited my arrival at your door. I didn't know this of course until after we met face to face, but you told me "it's just a sock, it will be over soon" and I was foolish enough to believe you.

We had a good run for a while. Your showed me the sights around your town, we went shopping together, you introduced me to your coworkers, you took me to church. But all the while, you were casting on other projects and claiming they "weren't as fun" as I was. It hurt.

Remember the week you spent trying to figure out the hood? Finally, you got it (and as a thank you for your mother helping you with the stitch counts, you cast on another project). I was proud of you, and a little saddened. Did those hours of hard work mean nothing?

Then you decided that your sister would prefer a pull-over style and continued our relationship until about the length reached right about the middle of her torso. I've been waiting patiently. I know you just had a baby and your husband requires a hot meal every now and then but for crying out loud Liz! Could you at least knit my sleeves in? I'm right there by the door, waiting for you to pick me up when you go out again. Just give me a chance, I promise the end result will be worth it.

Ever Yours,

Naomi's Sweater

P.S.- if I hear that you cast on another project before you finish me, I will show the moths where you keep the angora....