Yarn Along

Joining up with Ginny again today for the Yarn Along.  Do you see this mountain of goodness? I know I've shown fabric and yarn - but it's all so yummy.  The white and blue yarn is Berroco Vintage Worsted and is destined for the Shellseeker sweater and the sock yarn (Berroco comfort sock) will hopefully become Windward.  Yarn Harlot described Windward as having that "post-apocalyptic shabby chic" style that captures the "I'm so cool my clothes are rags" look.  I love her.  And I love these patterns - so shout out to  Heidi Kirrmaier. Click on her name to check out her other designs.  The pink ball of yarn with the sequins was chosen by Lucy, who accompanied me on this yarny expedition.  There was a sample scarf knit up with it that she fell in love with - so I have one more project to add to my list. The fabric has been sewn up into a birthday present for my niece.  I'll post pictures of the final product once I get it sent off in the mail - I can't ruin the surprise :)

I'm still reading A History of the Ancient World and haven't started anything new - but Keith and I did listen to Sinner by Lino Rulli over the weekend while we were driving in the car.  I thought parts of it were really funny.  I didn't much care for the added commentary with Father Rob, though.

the dance of being wife and mother...

The receiving blankets and spit-up cloths are scattered throughout the house - along with a breast pad I must have taken out during one of the night feedings. My pillow isn't on our bed - it's in the living room with a heap of blankets - an attempt to give Keith a good night of sleep.  The washing machine just chimed to tell me the load of cloth diapers is clean. The tiniest of our babies is grunting at me from her bouncy chair - her bed of choice when she has a tummy ache.

I look in the mirror.  My hair is a bit disheveled since I shower before bed now instead of in the morning.  Sometimes it isn't quite dry when I lie on the pillow and looks wonky when I wake up. I'm wearing my glasses, which I do a lot more these days because pregnancy seems to change my vision somewhat permanently.  I'm thinking of that picture I saw of myself from nearly 6 years ago. And sometimes I long to be that girl again - the young bride Keith married and took honeymooning in Cuba.  Tight body, tanned skin and all his. It was as if every nerve I had was naturally tuned in to him. 

Fast-forward 5.5 years and three kids and this connectedness takes a lot more purposeful effort. We can't possibly be as focused on each other as we were before we had kids. The joy is that the desire to be has never faded - the joy of simply being beside him. We are best friends and lovers and part of the dance is trying to hold the two in tension.  Life's demands have taught us to laugh with (and sometimes at) each other, to make ourselves available to one another and to cherish those times when we can focus solely on the other.  I hope, after our kids are grown and on their own and we find ourselves once again alone with each other - he'll still see me the way I looked on our honeymoon. 

A Journey through Photos

The first two weeks of Charity's life have been full.  She has been to an Ottawa 67's game and seen her dad compete in the Million Dollar Shootout.  She has been to Stanley's Maple Sugar Farm and to church, the doctor's office and various shopping locations.  She's been held by some of the people who love her the most - grandparents, great friends, siblings, Mum and Dad. Truthfully, she's slept through most of these experiences (save those doctor's appointments) but I hope they - along with the photos we've taken will help her understand that she is part of a family and a community that has loved and included her right from the start. 

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