Highlights from the wedding

In point form, as has become the norm around here:
-how well everything came together, thanks to the bride's excellent planning
-speaking of the bride, how radiant she looked! Absolutely gorgeous.
-how quickly my hair was done (45 mins) and how well it stayed in through the day and night (oh yeah, we stayed until 10:30, and this with a newborn and a toddler! I felt like a superhero, albeit a very tired one by the time we got home.)
-how great the speeches were; I cried copiously
-how amazing the pictures are (the photog showed some to us as we went along, and wow. Can't wait to see the proofs)
-how adorable D was as flower girl; I didn't know how she'd be for the actual walking down the aisle, but she didn't spook. In fact, she held my hand and used her other hand to point out every guest while saying "who's that? who's that?" And all this on just a brief nap on the way to the venue!
-how happy the bride and groom, just absolutely delighted and beside themselves
-how great the groom's family was: his sisters played with D all through the rehearsal, and she loved them. His mom also loved visiting with M & D, and helped rock D in her stroller near the end of the evening when we were trying to get her to sleep

There was much more, too, but I can't remember it all. Overall, a great day for a great couple! And now on with the rest of their lives.

First snow of the season

Today, I'm reading: The Woefield Poultry Collective (not, as I initially misread, The Woeful Poetry Collection). This is a recommendation from my trusted friend Morgan. It's also the first time I've been able to snag a copy of a new release from the library without placing a hold. Perplexingly, although there are ten copies in circulation, two of them were at my local branch. One of them was titled Home To Woefield.

I'm knitting: The lovely Damask, and hoping to be done by Christmas for maximum seasonal wear. By the number of rows I've knit so far, I'm 25% done, but they are ever-decreasing, so it's probably more like 30%.

I'm making: beef stew and bread, using two of my favourite winter appliances (crock pot and breadmaker, respectively)

D is busy marvelling at the snow; she remembered what it was!

The week of many lists

It's the week before the wedding, which is usually when everyone goes crazy, so in order to preserve my sanity and that of my loved ones, I have devised many lists to make sure everything from my end gets done. For example, yesterday's list:
-email wedding day timeline to bridesmaids
-drop off nylons and dress to one bridesmaid
-find hair accessories for my daughters
-bring printed signs and glass dishes for candy buffet to Mom & Dad's house
-take in Hubby's suit for dry cleaning and D's dress for steaming

This was all done by midday (thanks to Little Sis and my mom for babysitting D, and providing us lunch)!

Happy birthday, Hubby!

Here's what the girls and I are up to today:

D helped me make the cake...

...and clean up afterwards...

...while M alternated screaming with this...

Selective illiteracy among canvassers

Dear World Vision,
Kindly instruct your door-to-door salespeople that "no soliciting" does, in fact, apply to them. Also, if they could refrain from making smart-aleck comments such as "wow, you look really happy to see me", that would be greatly appreciated, as sarcasm does not endear them nor their cause to me.
Regards,
Formerly napping Mom, newborn and toddler.

Yeah. Not one of our best days.

Happy Hallowe'en!

From a darling dragonfly...


...and a perfect pumpkin!

Mommy is celebrating with a pumpkin spice muffin and a cup of tea. Tomorrow, we buy next year's costumes.

The first days

There's so much that I had forgotten about newborns! Cord care, diaper changes, burping, hats and scratch mittens... and that's entirely besides post-natal care for me, which we need not get into. I'm really enjoying this time of resting when we can and letting other people do the housework and such. Hubby's been amazing; I hadn't changed a diaper on either of my girls since Tuesday (to be fair, M didn't need changing until Thursday, and D was at her grandparents')! He's also been great at going out and getting me whatever I need or want (ibuprofen, pumpkin spice muffin, etc), even maneuvering a grocery store visit with both his daughters in tow. I don't think I'm that brave yet. Still, I'm so happy to have him at home, and I love that we are now a family of four.

Getting used to a newborn, even in these early days, feels much more manageable the second time around. I remember a lot of exhaustion and lack of routine last time, but with D in a routine, it's easier for us to stick to one. A two-year-old is more work in some ways, but then she can eat, nap, and play by herself. It's really neat to see Big Sis and Little Sis interacting. D has been giving the baby lots of kisses and never fails to point out that M has an ear, or fingers, or a little nose.

Now that baby's here, the next big family event will be the wedding! I ordered some Spanx online today, and with the help of a promotional code and a pre-Christmas shipping discount, I paid far less than I expected. It's due to arrive sometime in the next week or so, just in time for me to get my bridesmaid's dress altered.

And what will M be wearing to the wedding? Well, the bride herself was at Joe Fresh and found this:


Too cute! It's very much like the pink ones they had last year, with the satin top, sash, and tulle skirt. This is more of a champagne shade, although the flash makes it look white.

And finally, the new babe, because let's be honest, she's the star of this blog at the moment:

Are these really the feet of a ten-pounder? You bet.