The one in which they come to an understanding...

The cat and the babe, that is. Rusty's 6 months old now (we'll ignore the time warp that must have occurred for those 6 months to go thisfast, because surely it was just a week or two ago that I was bring that tiny little bundle of blobby baby home from the NICU)

Since Rusty's arrival at home, the cat (Lily Potter Belville) has wavered between indignation at the affrontery that is a newborn (the screaming, the smelling, the stealing of the good spot in mama's bed) and curiosity (if I lay on it, will it be a good pillow?)

We've fianlly, I think, reached the Indifferent stage. Rusty's not yet mobile, so Lily can plant herself just out of arm's reach and look at him with mild annoyance. To which he laughs back hysterically, like she might just be the funniest little creature to ever walk the Earth. It's entertaining all around; I adore the giggles that erupt from Rusty anytime Lily gets close to him. But poor Lily, she doesn't have a chance once this kid gets some skills and can chase her.

Yesterday's birthday festivities included a jaunt to IKEA where the kiddies got to play in Smaland (god, how I adore whatever genius thought up the IKEA Smaland!) and I got to play in the housewears. I was very, very good and came home with only a few trinkets.

Some plain bibs that are destined to be gussied up with embroidery from the insanely inspiring Design Collection for Kids which I found from reading over at one of my favorite blogs, SouleMama Stay tuned for in progress pics as I work on them.


I was sorely tempted to get some georgeous earth tone printed linen called Gribby, but it I didn't have a specific goal in mind for it, and I'm trying not to buy anything that doesn't have a goal. So, I put it back. If it keeps calling to me, I'll figure out a project for it and go back, I think. Isn't it pretty?

In knitting news..well, there is no knitting news. I've been....well, um, I've been...crocheting.

There, I said it. I've been crocheting. And I like it. Yes, me - crocheting. And liking it. I've been churning out granny squares like a mad woman. It all started with Alicia's ripple afghan. Oh, how her ripple sang to me. Called to me. But, then she started in with the grannies. And then I found the GrannyAlong and now I'm just in big trouble. I'm thinking of all the surfaces in my house I can cover with the granny. But the first up, I'm making a sweet blankie for a friend who is expecting a wee girlie early this summer. Don't these colors just make you picture a rosy cheeked little summer girl, sitting under a tree in the breeze?

The one in which I am (Officially) a Grown-Up....

Today is my birthday. My 30th Birthday. For the past several weeks, everyone around me has been making a big to-do, talking about how this is the end of my youth and I'm now most certainly "old." I usually stare them down for a few moments, then let my eyes wander to the wee boys who are usually running circles around us and finally, erupt in fits of laughter.

Old? OLD?! Dude, I've got 4 (4!!!) kids. Boys. I already am OLD.

How is it that your children can simultaneously make you feel so very old and so very youthful at the same time? It's one of the myriad gifts of parenting; when I'm feeling down and dreary, a quick game of tag with my boys envigorates me and reminds me that there's plenty of life left in these bones. But one roll of my 7 year old's eyes, and wham! I feel like I'm the crustiest old broad, so completely out of touch with the youngun's.

Of course, having 4 kids really turned me into a grown-up far faster than some arbitrary age ever could. Being MaMa to these fantastically interesting boys has taught me to meet their needs (without sacrificing my own)...to love unconditionally (and from a place in my heart I didn't even know existed)...to prioritize (and let go of the unneccessary ideas and ideals that hold me down)... and to multitask better than anyone I know.

Can you guess how many things I am doing in this picture? We're at the park, so I'm making sure three insane boys are not hurting themselves (or any other unfortunate kids who get in their paths). It's morning, so I'm drinking coffee. I've got the bub in the sling, so naturally I'm nursing (yes, after 4 kids, you get that good at nursing discreetly) And, of course, I'm knitting. Because without the knitting, I would be too crazy and far gone to be able to do any of the other things.

Today, I'm off to IKEA to spend some quality time looking for bathroom accoutrement for our soon-to-start renovations. I figure the birthday has got to give me some good juju and I'll find exactly what I need.

After all, you only turn 30 once.