Onto The Next.

Somewhere between California and Alaska-Minna lost her baby-ness.

See what I mean?

Maybe it was the hump of 2 to 2 and 1/2. I don't know. Whatever it was that occurred, I now feel that Minna is much less a baby or a toddler even, and more a full blown kid.

She is totally over sleeping in our bed all night. And while training-pants are acceptable at night, wearing them during the day is so last year. The biggest thing though is that I no longer have a nursing babe in the house. That is very bittersweet for me. Unimaginable really. I have been nursing, or pregnant for the last...golly, 8 years or so!

Wow.

Child-led weaning is the only way we do it around here. I had been feeling ready myself lately, so I gently nudged and really listened to her and she told me when it was time. Though I am feeling a slight sense of freedom and it feels good, I am also desperately sad that I will never have a newborn tucked in the crook of my arm lazily nursing with me on the couch. I don't get to feel a teeny hand holding my cheek or twisting my hair. I will dearly miss looking down into a pair of sweet, wide eyes looking right back at me. And those feathery baby lashes! Don't get me started. Nursing my babies will give me a sense of pride and heart fluttering memories for always.

Now Minna-girl, I am sure has a new found feeling of freedom and independence as well. Which is the whole point of attachment parenting. Well, any parenting style right? It's onto the next big thing for her, whatever that may be during these days of growing and learning. I wonder if she will have memories of nursing too as she was my longest and certainly most passionate breast milk lover?

As for me? I know you fellow nursing mums are with me here, I am onto some new undergarments without flaps and extra hooks. (Totally, right?)

Guess it's onto the next for the both of us then.

Get Some Of The Crochet Outta' The Way.

I have been feeling a bit of pressure to share the little bits of making that went on during my hiatus. Of course I am the one putting the pressure on which is silly because I am probably also the only that cares anyway. So, for those of you even remotely interested, here is a brief rundown of some of the crochet projects that kept me busy and helped reduce stress during our big transition. I will make it quick so we all can move on...

Above are paper chains only they aren't paper! They are yarn, see? I got the pattern from a magazine, can't remember which. The original pattern was a child's scarf but I wanted to make like 20 feet or so to drape around the tree. I made about 5 feet and will add on each year. Each loop took about 20 minutes and you attached them as you went. Fun. I got really good at half-double-crochet.

Minna is sleeping under some starfish that were supposed to be plain old stars that I wanted to use to decorate for Christmas also. They weren't pointy enough for me and I have since learned how to make them look much more star-like. Sea life or stars, they ended up in the holiday box anyway.

I experimented with scallops and petals and ended up with yards of random garland type things and many flowers. Some I love and some are crumpled at the bottom of my scrap bin. For now, I like this soft blue draped about my bedroom. Not sure how much Jeff likes it.

This pink number makes it's first and last public appearance here. It was supposed to be a pixie hat but ended up a bottle-nipple hat and a tad too small. (I am going to make this sewn version of a pixie ASAP!) Stay tuned for many more projects made from that pink yarn. At least some of that poor hat's cousins made it out into the world. Man! Minna sure can make ANYTHING look good.

Now. Feeling much better out here, aren't you? Nice to catch up on the important stuff, (and not so much) that goes on. Crochet was pretty important to me these past months. Kept the hands busy and warm. Daydreaming about stringing my little garlands around the new house while we waited for it kept me sane. I guess sanity is important. :)

Do you do anything simple that's also really important somehow? Love to hear about it.

Have a great day!

sunday

friday and saturday

This Moment-The Game Of Catch Up.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

-Amanda Soule (Soule Mama)

**************************************************************************

I am going to continue to post special moments each Friday like they do over at Soule Mama, but for the next few Fridays I am going to be catching up on all the memorable moments that I didn't get to share over the past few months. This may result in never being caught up because it's not like I can put the present good times on hold now can I? I guess I will just pick a few from our first months here and resume real time play in a couple of weeks. It's a nice ritual no matter when the photos were taken right?

Check back if you want because I am just gonna jump right in and start playing "wordless weekends" again starting tomorrow.

Have I mentioned how fun it is to be back? Sorry, just can't contain myself.

Have a great weekend!

What The Heck Have We Been Up To?

We have hiked, climbed and scampered hills and trails all over this icy, mossy island. We have walked (or, if you are me, inched awkwardly) across many a frozen body of water. We have been touched by our first ever snow and learned how to keep nice and warm. With surprise, we have found we don't mind the cold.

We have combed for miles where snow meets sea and collected shells filled with ice. Have you ever thought of such a thing? Not me.

One of us has settled into a new job. Two of us have settled into a new school. Both have turned out to be an awfully nice fit. The remainder of us (oh, just us gals) have settled into our new dailies and have made ourselves quite comfy.

Best of all, we have bought a house on a sliver of Alaskan soil. After all those years renting, then traveling, and recent temporary dwelling and hotel-ing, somehow we have finally found ourselves at home. In our own cozy beds. Boxes unpacked and those darn suitcases put away.

Now. What have YOU been up to these past months?

Tickled In The New Year.

Oh my how long it has been.

I have been surprised and blushing at all the sweet wonderings about me and my lil' blog. Thank you! And yes, yes YES! I am keeping up the blog thing! I have dearly missed compiling my daily ramblings and photos and relishing in the good that can come from each and everyday. I have to be honest and say that there have been moments, days even, over the past few months when finding a snapshot or squeezing out some positive words that were worth you time would have been difficult for me. I still believe that there is always something lovely and important to share from each and every one of these days that fly by us. Even from the hard ones.

As you can see we have a new header. Nothin' fancy. I will pretty it up when we have our computer set up again. The poor thing didn't weather the move all that well. I am still working from my iPad and Jeff's notebook when I can steal it from him. The iPad remains a mystery to me but it is still a neat little gadget anyway. No matter how it gets posted I am excited to start sharing again. So, the blog address is the same out of convenience and as a nod to where this all started, out in Two Rock. Hope you enjoy the new scenery.

We certainly are, in this new year with new ground under our feet.

Now we are... "Out Here In The Flats".

And it's darn good to be back.