Bluebirdbaby

A Good Beach Day

Spring Growth

Week 9

For the Six One Way flickr group.

Yesterday the little one decided she wanted to spend time outside. A lot of time outside. A few minutes after going out, it started to rain. Didn't bother her a bit. The camera and I got a bit damp, but we stayed outside and had fun exploring newly emerging patches of grass that lead into the forest.
We threw sticks for Mac, ate lots of dirty snow, watched birds soaring high above, found acorns to gather, felt the texture of different trees, checked out our boats stored in the yard, jumped in puddles, went in and out of the greenhouse, and checked the mail...all in the rain. The camera held up (mostly stored under my coat) and I managed to get a few shots from our rainy afternoon outdoors.

I hope you're all having a wonderful week and able to spend some time outside!

Ah, the sun

I knew we'd be getting a brief break from winter soon. The past two days have been amazing. That spring smell is in the air, we can walk around in our mud boots with just a sweater while soaking up the warm sun. Despite the multiple feet of snow still in our yard, there are some buds poking through a tiny patch of soil.

We took advantage of the lovely weather yesterday and spent as much time outside as possible. I found the old stroller, brushed it off, and the little one and I headed out on a very long, and very lovely, walk.

The sky was so blue and so brilliant against the dark, leafless trees. I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures.

Because of the wooded area we live in, the snow is sticking around longer than most places. But I am seeing buds on trees, and that gives me hope. Green grass can't be too far away...

Here is an outtake from a little photo shoot we had yesterday. Most of my spring and summer collection is finished and I should have things listed next Wednesday!

Have a lovely weekend!

Week 8

Another mosaic for the Six One Way flickr group. There has been a couple of exciting things happening around here:
The first use of the "potty" by the little one. Completely her own idea after getting up from her nap one day. So we ordered her first pairs of "unders" and have been experimenting with potty training taking her lead. Quite thrilling to think about not having to wash cloth diapers!
And there is some construction going on in the house. Very noisy construction, I might add. Stephen is expanding the loft (which at its current size, is not much use to us), so there is hammering, sawing, banging, and plenty of sawdust around here.

Thank you all so much for your wonderful, thoughtful, and encouraging comments yesterday. I really do appreciate them. I wish I could respond to each, but with my newly limited computer time, I will just have to saw "thank you" to everyone. I read what each of you had to say and found all the comments to be so helpful and heartfelt.  I feel deeply honored that there are many people who take time out of their days to stop in and read what's going on in our lives. I will keep you updated on the Waldorf preschool progress and parenting in general in the coming months.

Week 7 (and some favorites)

Another week, another mosaic for the Six One Way pool.

Some favorites:
-this room
-these prints are so neat
-this fabric
-anything from this shop
-this photo
-this shirt
-so creative
-this print
-this photo (and the dress, and the bed, and those walls...)
-this book

Mud Season

It's getting close to mud season in our little town. The snow is indeed melting, albeit quite slowly. And with the melting snow comes many mud puddles. The longer days have prompted the little one and I to get outside after her nap. So yesterday we bundled up (the sun was marvelous, but it sure was windy!) and headed outside to play in the puddles and marvel at the little patch of grass emerging beneath the snow.

One puddle proved to be quite deep, for a little person anyway. She barged right through it without a care in the world. Those rain boots sure come in handy on a day like this.

As we were walking back to find the only patch of grass by the house, I suddenly smelled spring. You know, that mud/everything starting to come to life again smell? It was marvelous and in my excitement I exclaimed, "can you smell that mud?!" So the little one spent the next ten minutes trying to get her nose as close to the mud as possible, all the while sniffing. So cute.

The grass is not yet green, but I have a feeling we may not be far from it. We spent a good amount of time just looking at the grass and pointing to dried leaves and fallen branches. The first time the little one spotted this patch of grass she screamed with excitement. Yes, my poor child, that is grass. It's been so long since you've seen it that you've forgotten about it entirely. It's coming again. I promise.

And some other scenes from our yard:

Enjoy today! We're expecting more sun and higher temperatures. I suppose we'll be doing more of the above.

Week 6

For the Six One Way flickr group.

I've had a frustrating two weeks of reacting to gluten. The source is a mystery. I even cut out orange juice to see if it helped, but it didn't. (Has anyone heard of orange juice being contaminated with gluten? I thought I read that somewhere...) So every morning I wake up feeling more tired than I was the night before, and by the afternoon I feel as though I could pass out. My motivation has completely disappeared and is replaced by an achy body in desperate need of sleep and rest. Add to that an almost 18-month-old who has hit the "terrible twos" a tad early. Oy vey.

green week~five

We received a lovely package from Melissa over at Tiny Happy earlier this week. And guess what color rickrack she used? Green! (And I was so pleased to get one of her lovely gocco cards I had been eying on flickr. I love trees.)

Yesterday was a good mail day. The little one got the above package from a family member and it was wrapped in green paper. How appropriate! We also received some other lovely things in the mail that you can see here.

The resale shop we frequently visit also sells balloons. A lady walked out with a large bunch of balloons and the little one politely requested one for herself. So I chose the nearest color balloon and had them inflate it. It wasn't until later that I realized I had picked green. Perhaps it was a subconscious decision on my part?

And not green, but something I'm rather proud of. A wholesale order completed in record time. Phew! Now, back to the spring things!

green week~four

As I was sewing away in the green room, I started to think about what today's green week post would feature. Then it occurred to me...I was sitting in a room of green. And I have to say that finding the white balance adjustment on the actual camera last week has been the greatest thing ever. Anyway, it's a small space and you've probably already seen most of it, but here are some shots that might be new:

We had another stormy day yesterday. I love snow, I won't complain. (As long as it's gone by spring and the enormous piles in our yard don't hang around until June.) But gray days filled with sleet just don't strike my fancy. So the little one and I were feeling a tad housebound and antsy. After numerous attempts to capture her attention with an activity, I had the idea of sorting beans. Our pantry is full of jars containing various dried beans. One pot of dried beans + one wooden container for sorting = at least 20 minutes of fun.

green week~three and Six One Way week five

Alex and Elisabeth wear green. I was overjoyed to find a non-pink shirt at the resale shop last week. Green is good.

Her favorite snack (Snapea Crisps) is green. Although she's had them so much I think she may finally be getting tired of them. This bowl sat full the whole day and ended up being offered to the dog.

And her beloved blankie is green. I made this for her when she was a couple of months old and she is now quite attached to it.

And week five for the Six One Way group...

green week~two

We love our veggies. Last night was a lentil soup from this recipe. Delicious! Sometimes I feel limited in our meal planning because I shop at the local natural food co-op and they stock a good variety of vegetables, but nothing like the big chain grocery stores. Regardless, we get our fare share of vegetables (albeit the same each week) and try to find new and interesting recipes to try.

green week~one

I've hopped on the green week bandwagon. I will admit, when I first read the idea I was a bit afraid. Green? Amidst all this white? How could I possibly do a whole week of green? But it will be a good challenge. No, you won't see plants budding in our yard or green grass sprouting, but you will see what green we can find in our home.

Above is the little one in her favorite green pajamas picking out today's clothes in her green dresser. So there. I found two green things in one day!

Week 4

Another one for the Six One Way flickr group. Such fun these are.

Things that are recently making me quite happy:

-This fabric (I know it's not new, but I love it)
-Another fabric love
-This movie (it's one of my favorites. we watched it last night)
-This photo (feels like something right from the past)
-This shirt (who can resist a cute bunny?)
-These note cards (feels like spring)
-This video (because I can never watch those dance moves without laughing)
-This song (okay the video is pretty darn fun too)
-This photo
-This dress
-This amazing photo and the story behind it
-This video (kind of made me want to rip my hair out and scream, but it's good)

So what are you loving at the moment?

A New Challenge

I feel as though I'm in a bit of a photography rut. You know, being stuck inside with the same old things, then going outside to have everything look, well...white. It's been warm enough the past couple of days to go for our usual walk on this quiet road. I tried to challenge myself to see things that haven't changed in months in a new way. It certainly helped to have a gorgeous blue sky, a cute little one wearing my favorite hat, argyle socks with sneakers in the snow, and amazing scenery all around us.

So the challenge was good and I think it may have pushed me out of that rut just a tad. Although I look at these photos and am almost positive I have taken one like them in the past...

The point. Gosh, she's getting so tall. Another round of sleepers were outgrown last week and she can now reach things on the kitchen counter. (Did I mention she got three more teeth last week? So that's a total of eight in two weeks!)

A stop for some traditional snow eating. The sneakers were all we had after we realized her boots had gotten too small. I'm too stubborn to buy more winter boots when I *hope* spring is just around the corner.

The family portrait. Hmmm...kind of looks familiar, doesn't it?!

On the bike. I can not convey my affection for that hat. It goes with us everywhere and Alex even wears it to bed.

And I think by next summer she might be able to pedal all by herself. But for now she is content with a push from Papa while she points excitedly to our neighbor's house and hums a little tune.

Week 3 (and other things)

Another one for the Six One Way project. Have I mentioned that in the past week the little one has gotten five new teeth (four being molars)?! Oh yes. Hence the middle picture of the Hyland's teething tablets.

So I have some news for you all. First, I was interviewed by a business opportunities weblog and you can find the interview here. It was a lot of fun to do and hopefully you will find some new tidbits you haven't read before.

I have a new website that is up and coming. ShopBluebirdbaby.com will be launched soon, but for now you can see the little "coming soon" banner I put together. A big thanks to Stephen for taking the time to do the programming for my new site! I'm really excited about it and hope it will provide people with more information about myself and my Bluebirdbaby goods.

And lastly, tomorrow (February 20th), at 2 p.m. EST, you will find two new additions to the shop. These "Everything Bags'' are perfect for so many things. They feature three interior pockets, a key ring to attach your keys, sturdy construction, and a lovely button closure. There will be two different bags in this style, so be sure to check in tomorrow for the update!

A Sunday Afternoon Walk

I've decided my body is in desperate need of exercise. My extent of any physical activity now solely involves running around after a small, energetic child. That's it. Because it wears me out so, it must be enough exercise, right?  Sadly, I have come to realize that it's just not. But when to fit in this exercise?! I can't bring the little one; it's too cold and windy this time of year. Waking up before she wakes up to squeeze some physical activity in would mean I'm up at 4 a.m. No thank you. So I guess I have to just snatch up the one or two times a week I may be able to get out alone.

I used to be a runner and hope that someday soon I will get back into it. But walking is perfect for now. It allows me to marvel at the red apples still hanging from the apple trees; surviving through wintry blizzards, wind storms, and hail.

Or soak up every detail of New England architecture, staring longingly at the house a half mile down the road from us that I have completely fallen in love with. It's original broken windows, the peeling pant on the clapboards, the crooked front steps, and rotting foundation. But I love it so and often imagine fixing it up and  moving ourselves in. It's for sale too. Anyone want to be our neighbor?

The bits and pieces of life abandoned over the years; half buried in snow, waiting for nature's next season and to be enveloped in green grass once again. It amazes me to think of the history this land has. The people who lived here, who worked here, the animals that grazed the land,  and the children who ran among the trees. It's humbling to think that we are only a small piece of a very large picture.

The exercise was much needed and the breaths of fresh air revived my energy. It only seemed fitting to top it off with a slice of flourless chocolate torte, complete with homemade whipped cream. Yes, I think this exercise thing will become a regular occurrence.

Week 2

Week 2: for the Six One Way project. (Definitely feeling really inspired by this right now!)

Thank you for all the kind, thoughtful, and encouraging comments on yesterday's post. Wow. You all amaze me sometimes. I know I'm not alone when I say how much your comments mean to me. They really truly make my day and can pull me out of the deepest rut. If you connected with yesterday's post at all, I urge you to go back and read through the comments. There are so many others who feel the same way and have many inspiring things to say. You all rock. Thanks for being here.

And guess what?! Sheila, the Bluebird Bag winner, never got back to me. So Sheila, if you're out there, please contact me!! If I don't hear from you by Thursday night, another name will be drawn! Thanks Sheila! The bag will be mailed later this week.

A little heads up: we are expecting a big storm (ugh) tonight and tomorrow with possible power outages. Please don't be concerned if I don't post on Thursday. Our little town is not on the top of the list with the power company, so it may be a couple days before we get our power back...

And the Winner Is...

Thank you for all your Bluebird Bag love! 75 comments...that's a lot of writing! I managed to get all the names written down while the little one kept herself entertained with bowls full of snow in the sink.

She had a bit of a hard time choosing only one. She wanted a handful, but after a few tries she finally picked a sole name out of the bowl.

So the winner is Sheila, commenter #27! Please e-mail me (erin@bluebirdbabyslings.com) with your address so I can get this bag out to you. Thanks to everyone else who left a comment. I loved reading each and everyone of them. You can be sure there will be another giveaway in the future.

And have you all seen the Six One Way project? It's amazing and their photographs are so inspiring and captivating. I joined the flickr photo group, adding the mosaic above. Expect to see one of these a week from me. It's such a great challenge and adds to my goal of noticing the little details of our lives.

On the Way to the Post Office

We do live in a very beautiful place.

A Walk In the Woods

Please note that the time of my shop update has changed. Have a lovely weekend!

A Bit of Randomness

Yesterday, the marvelous Rhea came over for some chatting and tea. I call her the "marvelous Rhea" because she really is quite marvelous. She knows me well and as soon as I whipped out my camera she asked, "is this going on the blog??" Rhea is a terrific graphic designer and has agreed to completely rework my logo for the shop, including business cards and some free gifts to include with my Etsy sales.

I'm really excited about it all and hope to reveal the new look with the next update of my shop. Hopefully that will be towards the end of the month. There's so much crafting going on here, but I want the next update to be a surprise. I'll show you snippets here and there in the coming weeks so at least you know something is going on in the green room.

The following are completely random photos I've taken around the house lately. I guess quite fitting for a Friday, where the craziness from the rest of the week seems to melt away in anticipation of the weekend. Ah, Saturdays...lounge pants, pancakes, a good book, a movie, some snow playing (and eating), and visits to our favorite little book store to see friends and have my daily soy mocha.

A hat the little one found buried in Stephen's office. She dragged it upstairs and placed it on the floor in front of where I sit on the couch. I found it after she had gone down for her nap and chuckled as I read the visor.

A mobile that was my sister's, then passed down to me, now passed down to the little one. It sits in our living room where the sunlight streams through the window most of the day.

A glass bubble I thought looked brilliant in the sunlight.

My favorite dried flowers that I never tire of.

I hope your weekend is full of creativity and laughter. Stay warm! See you back here on Monday.

We Love Orange

Favorite clock

Snack

Fresh squeezed

Thrifted chair

Empty lunch bowl (Rice pasta and goat cheese. It was good.)

Custom order crown (Of course I had to test it.)

And definitely not orange, but a little sneak peak at the "big project" that has been underway for the last two months. Hopefully within the next couple of days I can show you the completed project. I'm waiting for a few finishing touches to arrive in the mail...

We Love Stripes

My "weekend shirt"

Alex's pants

Favorite rug

The little one's pants

Just a few more quiet posts until after the weekend. I have a big project in the works that is almost completed, and hopefully by Monday there will be an update about that. Have a wonderful weekend and thank you all so much for your thoughtful comments about my article!

A little holiday celebrating

On Saturday we drove down to my mother-in-law's house to do a little holiday celebrating. Mare is the greatest mother-in-law, the best hostess, and we always leave smiling and with full bellies. Her house is gorgeous, overlooking Casco Bay, and tucked right into the big city where all the action is going on.

The little one "helped" me wrap up the gifts before we headed out. I've used simple brown packing paper to wrap gifts for a few years now. I love the simplicity of it and you can dress the package up with ribbons and other things. I used scrap fabric for this tie and made a little fabric gift tag to match.

When we arrived, Mare was waiting with hor'dourvers and drinks.

Shortly after, it was time to open gifts. I made Mare a patchwork linen scarf and a tote bag. When she asked me what I would like, I told her I'd rather have her get some toys for Elisabeth that would keep her entertained. This stroller? A big hit! The little one just adores it. (We'll talk about who's in the stroller later this week.)

Then there was the food. It was all so delicious. This is actually one of my favorite parts about the holidays. Food seems to be everywhere and very plentiful this time of year. My mother joined us and brought the little one a special gluten-free (as well as many other things...) blueberry cake, because blueberries are her favorite food. It was delicious and she couldn't get enough of it. It also came in mighty handy on the long car drive home.

I couldn't resist taking some photographs of the lovely artwork Mare has in her home. And, of course, I had to get a shot of the view. It's just perfect. My flickr page has many more pictures of our day.

After supper there was a bit of relaxing, then came the goodbyes and hugs, and the long car drive home. I think this is just how I like the holidays:  low-key, relaxing, full of good food and family, and just having fun.

Snow Day

Father Winter is officially here. Eight inches of snow buried us yesterday. Stephen had a "snow day" and spent the day watching the little one while I spent a little more time bonding with my new love. I got a lot done. Having about four hours to work, of course with sporadic interruptions from a short someone, felt so incredibly invigorating. Actually having completed projects on the table? Heavenly.

So we spent the day inside with a brief outing so the little one could do lots of snow eating. Stephen took charge of the camera and captured some really beautiful photos.

See my new banner above? That's all him. I edited and cropped it, but he gets the credit. I thought it only fitting to replace the banner where Elisabeth was running around without a jacket on the grass. It seemed so out of place after the snow today.

And 'tis the season for holiday outfits! There are four in the shop. My style and tastes definitely reside in the more "classic and simple" look, but I had fun with the matching shirts. I think they are very festive and would make a little one quite thrilled to wear.

First Snowfall

*Not such a quiet post today. Sometimes I just can't keep my word!*

Amazing the difference a year can make. Last year the little one was not too impressed with the snow. But this year? Well, as soon as she woke up from her nap and saw the window, she screamed in excitement and ran to it to get a closer look.

Of course, we had to go outside. As I opened the door you could see the delight on her face. How fun it must be to really see snow for the first time. Quite fitting it should snow today, the same day our special order Winter book by Gerda Muller arrived at our local bookstore. (See that dog on the front page? That's "Twister," Elisabeth's special friend. The coffee shop is attached to the bookstore and we visit everyday. Need I say more?!)

While playing in the snow, Elisabeth discovered that it's also good for eating. I'm surprised this picture even came out as the camera was jumping up and down from my laughing. She insisted on eating all the snow off of every  solar light along the walkway. 

With the snow today and Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I'm definitely getting into the holiday mood. I felt so much excitement today, just like I remember as a child. Now, if I could only find time to work on all the gifts for Christmas...

On Our Walk

Expect some quiet posting this week. There is much to do around the house to prepare for the winter ahead and even more sewing to take place. I'll be back to regular posting next Monday.

A long walk with the little one just before sunset. A stop to look at the sun's golden rays on the apple tree and to touch some winter berries. A quiet, peaceful break in the midst of a hectic day. A chance to recharge and catch our breath. Much needed by both.

I Love the Great Outdoors

We spend the middle part of our days outside exploring the eight acres that surround our house. The little one is always excited to get going. She insists on walking herself, motioning for me to put her down after I open the door. These days we are always greeted by a blast of chilly air, which for a moment makes me question our decision to venture out instead of curling up on the couch with a cup of cocoa. But the little one will not be stopped.

We have our little rituals: stopping to scoop up rocks on the path (while I keep them from going into her mouth), touching the garden lights, saying "hello" to our car, trying to find the dog, and then we finally get to exploring.

On this particularly chilly day, we had a mission. We wanted to find some objects to bring inside for our winter nature table. Yes, it's getting to be that time. Winter. Brrrr. I actually smelled snow the other day. It always comes sooner than we ever expect it to. So before that white blanket covers the earth, we decided to find a few things first. Her little basket is always with us on our walks. She never lets go of it.  She does allow mama to plop a few goodies in there too, but mostly she decides.

Then we come inside, warm up with a hot drink and look at our treasures.  She pulls each one out with more excitement than when she put it in. I'll miss these days come winter. For now I just take comfort in the fact that these objects will remind us of the walks we took, the things that made her smile, and the fun we had, all winter long.

Changes and Yoga Pants

The little one is still an hour ahead despite the time change, so we have been rising early. I kept the bedroom clock on the old time, so I wouldn't freak when I saw 4:30 a.m. glaring me in the face when I heard the first peep out of her mouth.

Getting used to the time change is hard for Mama too. The space between the end of her afternoon nap and when Papa arrives home was our outside time. We took a walk, played in the woods, threw the dog sticks and rode on her bike. Now it's dark. We went outside after her nap today to discover the sun setting. I almost cried.

We quickly got in a little exploration (and outdoors snacking) before it got too dark to find our way home.

We arranged some rocks we brought home with us from the beach on Papa's shop steps. Elisabeth took off with one, clearly deciding it was too worthy of sitting on a step outside. (I think she ended up bringing it in and placing it in the dog food bowl.)

She ran and giggled while I tried to snap pictures of her new yoga pants I made over the weekend. Two pairs  were created out of thrifted, thick jersey. I added some Superbuzzy patches to the front for fun. She likes them and the wee bit of flare at the bottom makes me smile.

She made funny faces I had never seen before and laughed when I did my best to copy her expression.

She perfected her running, so Mama needed extra cookies to make up for the energy loss of chasing after her.

And, on our way inside to warm up, we noticed the solar garden lights shining at an amazing 4:30 p.m. I think I may have shed a tear thinking of the long, dark winter ahead. We'll make it through, right?

A Walk In the Woods

I used to love to hike. I would get out of work, pick up the dog and head to my favorite winter hiking spot. We would hike through a foot of snow, the only ones on the mountain. No footprints or tracks; we made our own. It was so peaceful and I found it especially refreshing to breathe in the cold mountain air while my body warmed up under layers of wool. The dog would bound merrily down the trail, stopping every 100 feet or so to wait for me.

Sadly, I eventually got too caught up in life and the busyness it entails. I stopped going to my favorite mountain and instead traded it in for the convenient, albeit hectic, streets I would run daily just outside our door. But since having a child, I seem to want to connect with nature more. I want to get back to hiking, walking trails, taking picnics by the lake, burying my toes in the sand at the beach and generally just slowing down a bit, using the outdoors as my starting point.

So Sunday we took a family day and headed to Dodge Point, a short drive from our house with easy trails that navigate around a pond and open up to the gorgeous Damariscotta River. The little one had never been on a trail before and she was rather excited to get going. If she actually would have stayed on the trail, I'm sure she would have walked a good part of it. However, the woods proved to be more exciting to her, so in the Ergo she went!

I told Stephen that he better take some pictures of me for the family album. Elisabeth is going to think her mama never existed because I'm always the one behind the camera.

So, being the natural model I am (insert loud laughing here), I posed in the only position I could think of after a marathon viewing of the Austin Powers movies...just like Dr. Evil.

We collected some things to bring back with us for the winter nature table. I love these little pine cones. We can only find the long, skinny pine cones on our property, so I was so pleased to discover the short, round ones.

Elisabeth was beyond thrilled when we came to the Damariscotta River. She actually tried to go swimming on that cold, windy day. Papa stopped her, thank goodness. There was a great deal of sitting in mud though.

And for the first time since she was 5 months old, she fell asleep in the carrier. It was so sweet. I had tears in my eyes thinking this could very well be the last time it happens. 

I'm sure there will be plenty of outdoor time this weekend for us, and I only hope yours will include some too! Enjoy your weekend!

Spirited Little Ones

I feel as though my posting about Elisabeth has been a little lax, so grab a cup of tea and a cookie...this one might be a doozy.

From the first day of Elisabeth's life, I knew she was different. She's intense, smart, high energy, curious, mischievous, outgoing, extroverted, determined, fearless and always on the go. She came out wanting to run and I swear is continually frustrated by the things she can't yet do.

When she walked at 10 months, you could physically see some of that frustration melting away. The more abilities she gains, the happier she is. She has never sat still (even when she couldn't crawl yet), never wanted to be held in a position that is relaxing or left alone for some quiet time. She doesn't cuddle and would rather only be held if there is something interesting for her to see at the grown-up level. When she gets hurt, she cries for a second, brushes herself off and goes right back to doing what got her hurt in the first place. She is the most determined little thing I have ever seen.

There mere mention of the word "no" sends her into a completely single minded state, where she can think of nothing else but doing the forbidden activity, or wanting that banished object. She spends most of our indoor time trying to get into the toilet or reaching for the disgusting brush behind it. Or what about the diaper pail? Yes, she thinks that's the most interesting thing of all. Electrical cords on the floor or outlets? Yes please! And shall we even mention the objects that go into her mouth while looking straight at me with those sly eyes? Pebbles, rocks, sand, dirt, grass, leaves, paper, buttons, dust balls, dog hair...you name it, she's tried it.

I used to wonder why she was so different. A lot of her "spiritedness" as a younger baby was caused by her lack of sleep. A newborn awake for 10 hours straight? No, it couldn't be, could it?! But once we got her sleeping better that spiritedness started working for her, instead of against her. (In this picture she is three weeks old and was alert like this pretty much all the time.)

Raising a spirited little one is exhausting work. Raising any child is a lot of work and every parenting adventure isn't without its challenges.  I've had so many older mothers come up to me while we are out and about and say, "She's different, I can tell. I had one too. Good luck to you." I can't even tell you how many times I've heard this. And I've spotted other little ones out there too with that same spirited quality that Elisabeth holds, all you have to do is look into their eyes.

She wants to swing high, run fast, climb stairs bigger than she, ride her bike at lightning speed, jump off any object she can climb, stand in her chair instead of sit, shout instead of talk with an "indoor voice", play with the big kids and, well, generally do everything more intensely. She throws herself down slides without first checking to see if mama is at the end to catch her. She will hurdle down stairs half as high as she without holding onto anything.

She trips, she falls, she stumbles and she gets right back up with more determination than before. She prefers cinnamon on her toast, garlic hummus instead of plain, pesto on her pasta, olive oil on her rice and garlic on her broccoli. She wants to hold her own spoon, turn her own pages, pick out her own clothes, put on her own socks and shoes, and I think if she could figure it out, she'd change her own diaper.

All of these qualities make for one extremely intense and spirited individual. There's no stopping her. I can't wait to see what the coming years will bring. What activities will she want to excel at or what will capture her interest? (Sky diving is my guess.) What she will be when she grows up? For now, we watch this determined little thing and know for a fact that she will be capable of so many things. Who knows... maybe she'll even change the world.

Smartwools and Hot Chocolate

After another brief return of summer-like weather, we finally had a real October day which required Smartwools and a cup of hot chocolate made with almond milk. It felt good to step outside and feel the cold air on our noses. The wind whipped around us, swirling the leaves in little circles, while more rained on us from above. The little one had so much fun dragging her feet through the leaves, listening to them rustle under her toes.

She found our latest addition quite thrilling and wanted to carry it with her on our walk. Of course, weighing more than she, it stayed behind.

Stephen's boss gifted us this German-made tricycle, complete with handle for a little push from mama or papa. There is much less exploring of the yard now, replaced solely by long rides up and down the road while mama pushes and the wee one "drives."

And, of course, the occasional stop to look at something intriguing by the side of the road.

Also, what would the weekend be without a little crafting? Besides finishing up some special orders, I completed this gift for someone special. You only get a sneak peak until it's in the receivers hands, but I'm really very pleased with the way it came out. I designed it myself and used some of the new material I bought the other day. (I told you it wouldn't take long until it was on the cutting table!)