Perpetual Valentine

Once upon a time, I received an amazing Valentine gift.

Today, she looks like this:

 Is it bad if I keep hoping she'll start to get "unfortunate" looking soon?  Everyone needs those years of awkward smiles and weird skin to humble them.

 I've got my fingers crossed, but so far... no luck.

Happy 9th Birthday, Abbie!

Results.

Again, thank you to everyone for your advice and concern regarding Anna and her food issues.
Two Tuesdays ago we had an Endoscopy done.
Last Tuesday we got the results of the 7 biopsies that they performed.

Everything normal. The test did confirm she IS lactose intolerant.
I don't know about you, but I am overwhelmingly relieved. In the interim we have noticed a definite difference in Anna's appearance for the better. And the fact that she's in no pain whatsoever calms my momma nerves.

So glad to have my happy healthy Anna back.

One Year.

It's not fair. Consider this my tantrum.
I used to have a baby.
She looked like this:

 Once upon a time. Or exactly one year ago today. Oh, I miss this little girl. Sorta. I miss the sweet sleepy smiles and snuggly soft cheeks.

 I miss the juicy lips. Why on earth do babies have to grow up? I'm fairly certain that the reason is so that we'll have more babies, but that plan has worked on me five times and I'll be damned if I let it work again. Maybe.

 I miss the squishy cheeks. This is probably the fattest Libby ever got. 2 months old. I imagine she might weigh 15 pounds now. MIGHT.

 Ah yes. Three months. She looks almost exactly the same today. I miss the tiny clothes.

 For example, this dress which I knit her with my bare hands (and needles) no longer fits. What do you do with a handknit item that your child has grown out of?? Seriously. Four months old and already slimming down.

 She's a skeptical one, that Libby. Not really. But it's really a wonder that I accomplish anything during her waking hours, simply based on the amount of time I spend snuggling with/on her. (5 months).

 At six months old, it was as if someone flipped her personality button. All my other children vie for her constant attention. Special points awarded to those who can make her laugh.

 By seven months old, Libby has fallen in line with the other kids. She's just one of the crowd.

 And at 8 months old, she turned on the major cutes button. Unfair advantage, Libby.

 Nine months old and breaking hearts everywhere. Especially Daddy.

 Ten months marked the "I refuse to be seen and not heard." Girl got loud.

 Month 11 blew by in a heartbeat. She started walking all over the place and didn't look back. I miss that old baby. The one that crawled. The one that avoided the stairs. The one that only had eyes for me. I miss the squishy soft baby they handed me that day one year ago in the hospital. I miss her bad.

 Because now I'm left with a big, grown up baby. A walking, jabbering, mess-maker.

 A baby with no regard to her momma's feelings. A little love that doesn't care if mom needs her baby girl back. Desperately.

 That's right. I'm having an extremely hard time coming to terms. Someone stole my baby. And I'm ticked.

 Of course, they left me with this totally fantastic, hilarious, adorably precious toddler who makes my heart explode daily.

 But I'm still pissed. Only not really.

 

Sad, yes. Happy, yes. 

Sorry I'm Late!

Random.Org generated the number 23!  Which means that Jen wins! The lucky girl!

Many of you asked for the pattern... Find it here!
Thanks for playing, folks! We'll do this again soon!

Priveledged Man

 Now, I love being a knitter and I love my husband, but sometimes he can get a bit pesty about his knitted "needs." (INSERT EYEROLL HERE).

He has already received mittens, and a hat.  But apparently that left his neck out in the cold, literally. I don't knit scarves. I find them boring. Sorry if you're a scarf knitter but generally it's just the same pattern over and over for 6 feet long... mercy!

So, considering my husband is a fashion forward metrosexual Asian... he opted for a Cowl. Yes, I know... but I promise it's manly.

 Everytime he wears it, it makes me love him just a little bit more.  Which is nice since he wears it almost daily right now. The pattern... funny thing... called the Simon Cowl.  And I used Noro Silk Garden Sock that's been burning a hole in my yarn stash since our summer vacation.

And guess what? Now the husband is pestering for a sweater vest. I've already purchased the yarn and the pattern... lucky man!

Now, you might have noticed that I added a www.knitmeter.com widget over to the right... My goal for 2011, is to knit 5 miles. Nerdy. Heck yes! And I'm on my way... already done with 3/4 of a mile! Go me!

(Sorry if you can't see some of the links... join Ravelry! It's free!)

Giveaway ALERT!

Really, this is just another ploy to get more of you to knit. Because honestly, I don't think enough of you guys are taking me seriously when I tell you about how awesome it is.

Leave a comment on this post and I'll draw for a winner of your very own Totally AWESOME braided Necklace on Wednesday. I might even let you pick the color! (Make sure you have your email address on there!)

ETA: Here's a link to the pattern! Glad to hear so many of you who are knitting!

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who commented on my Longish Story about Anna.

We're still waiting on some results, but we DID run the full gamut of blood and stool studies. They did test for both Gluten Intolerance and Celiac.  We also did a hydrogen breath test for lactose intolerance.

Here's what we now know.
1. 90-100% of Asian Americans are lactose intolerant.
2. Anna IS lactose intolerant.
3. All other tests came back negative and non-reactive.

We're still working through some other things and we'll keep you updated as we hear anything else.

Thanks!

Fancy Walker!

My Sweet Libby has long surpassed the eleven month mark. I cannot begin to admit that she's growing up. She is and always will be my sweet little teeny, tiny baby girl. Don't think you can argue otherwise. I just won't have it.

 Yes, she's coloring on my tile with a crayon. What of it?


And I am most definitely not prepared for this:

She actually managed her first steps when we were visiting with the husband's sister over the holiday break. But now there's no stopping her. I'd say she's an 80% walker now. It's a true crime against her babyhood.

Go ahead, haul her away in cuffs! I dare you not to smooch on her cheeks in the meantime.