Can You Tell How Cold We Are?

Well, as promised, here are the Wiebe family photos.  Not all of them, because I have to send out Christmas cards with THE pick, but here is a glimpse for those of you sitting on the edge of your seats.

What does a Wiebe family photo shoot look like? Ridiculously, incredible, amazingly COLD! It was -18 degrees Celsius out (which is 0 degrees Fahrenheit, for all you 'mericans out there.) Perhaps if I had been willing to wait a little, I might have had happier kids, but I'm not that patient, and the cold doesn't bother me that much (I forgot to ask the rest of the family how they felt about it.) Besides, I wanted the snow to be pretty and not run over and dirty. So, into the cold we went, and pictures we did take! The amazing Scott Hutchinson did such a great job! Please notice how over joyed the boys are to be out without hats on.  Please don't notice how I am wearing a hat. I'm the best mom, I know!

See, it wasn't completely miserable. There's a smile.

This is the money shot, the "I'm getting nuttin' for Christmas" shot.

Until his ears started aching, Eli was having a blast on his new sled.

Um, Winston here is actually trying to run on only his front two paws because he was so cold. Poor mutt.

Silas was done with the sled, so a running I did go.

Eli favourite lullaby right now: Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer.  Here he is, with a red nose (well, face, really) pulling the sleigh. He was thrilled.

This is the first time we have ever had a photographer take pictures of us, and I was really glad we did.  The old tripod has done us well in the past, but I can't deny that these pictures are about a million times better than we could have done on our own. And I have to admit, I did feel just a little bit glamorous walking through the park, in the snow, with a photographer following us around. Everyone needs a little glamor in their lives, don't they?

Overwhelmed by Random thoughts

So, let's all just play a little game and pretend that it is Sunday night, and that little old Jenny didn't forget to post her Nativity giveaway winner, and that tomorrow is Monday, not Tuesday, and that she will post her next giveaway then.  Did you do it?  Good.  I feel better already.

Let me start by saying that I can't believe it is November 22 already. Days are so stealthy, I keep missing them as they go by. 

I am almost done my Christmas shopping, which was pretty easy because our entire budget is lower than you can imagine, so getting to the end of it means getting to the end of my shopping. 

I almost hate looking at blogs these days because there are so many cute ideas out there, and I want to do them all, but to decorate a house, you need a house, so there's really no point.  I've put all the good ideas I'm finding into a file to save for next Christmas, when there will be a whole new pile of brilliant ideas, and I will just be even more overwhelmed than I am right now!  Crap.

We did get our family photos taken this week. My incredible friend, Scott Hutchinson, braved -18 degree weather to get the shot I had in my head.  He is amazing.  Stay tuned for a post with the pictures, and stay tuned just a little bit longer for a little gem in your mailbox, complete with a picture of my beautiful family and an update of our goings on.  If you want one, and you don't think I have your address, send it my way so I can send the love your way!

So, without further ado, the winner of the Nativity is....


Erin Wallace!!!

Yeah!  Erin is a dear friend whom we met in Michigan.  The joyous thing is, she and her family are from Alberta and are moving back in December!  So yes, Erin, this will have to be an excuse to get together over the holidays - I won't ship it to you just for you to pack it up and move it back. 

Silas's Snow Day Hat

 Okay, that is not Silas's hat, it's mine, but is he not stinking cute? I think you can all agree. 

This, however, is Silas's hat.  You know how sometimes when you are sitting around avoiding the work you should really be doing (like sewing the 4 advent calendars you promised your friend you would finish for Super Saturday in 2 days) you are struck with pure genius and you can`t help but drop all distractions and create?  Well, that is exactly what happened with this hat.  Staring at the various balls of yarn I have, these three screamed to me, and so I beckoned their call. I'm pretty sure this hat is my favourite in life, as of now. I love the colours, I love the ear flaps and I love the braids.

 Too bad I couldn't get Silas to sit still for a good picture, but you can all imagine how adorable he is in it. 

And, just for good measure, I made another. Love!

For those of you who would like to crochet one of your own, here's a pattern for you. I'm new at pattern writing, so please inform if their are any gross errors!

SIZE

Baby (Toddler and Child in parenthesizes)

MATERIALS

Vanna's Choice Yarn (100% Acrylic; 170 yards per 100g ball) in colour 108 Dusty Blue A, 123 Beige B, 180 Cranberry C

Crochet Hook US I9/5.50 mm

Tapestry needle

GAUGE

13 sts = 4"; 9 rounds = 4" in dc rounds. 

Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

PATTERN NOTES
dc = double crochet

sc = single crochet

DIRECTIONS

Round 1: With A, using an adjustable ring, draw up 2 ch; 9 (9, 10) dc into loop; join with a slip st in first dc - 9 (9, 10) dc with A

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1st dc here or throughout), dc in same st as joining, 2 dc in each dc in round; slip st in top of ch 2 - 18 (18, 20) sts.
Round 3: Ch 2, dc in same st as joining, dc in next dc, [2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc] around; join - 27 (27, 30) sts.
Round 4: Ch 2, dc in same st as joining, dc in next 2 dc, [2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc] around; join - 36 (36, 40)sts.
Round 5: Ch 2, dc in same st as joining, dc in next 3 dc, [2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc] around; join - 45 (45, 50) sts.

Toddler and Child Only Round 6: Ch 2, dc in same st as joining, dc in next 4 dc, [2 dc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc] around; join - 54 (60) sts.

All Sizes-Round 6-10 (7-11, 7-12)): Ch 2, dc in next dc and in each dc around; join.
Rounds 11 (12, 13): With B, ch 1, sc around; join.
Rounds 12 (13, 14): With C, ch 1, sc around; join.
Rounds 13 (14, 15): With B, ch 1, sc around; join.
Round 15 (16, 17): With A ch 1, dc around; join. Fasten off.

1st ear flap:
Row 1: With right side facing, join A in 7th (8th, 9th) dc from back joining; ch 2, dc in same st as joining, dc in next 10 (11, 11) dc, turn.
Row 2: Ch 2, dc in each stitch across
Row 3: Ch 2, skip 1 dc, dc in next 7 (9, 9) dc, skip 1 dc, dc in last dc, turn - 8 (10,10 ) sts.
Row 4: Ch 2, skip 1 dc, dc in next 5 (7, 7) dc, skip 1 dc, dc in last dc, turn - 6 (8,8) sts.
Row 5: Ch 1, skip 1 dc, sc in next 3 (5, 5) dc, skip 1 dc, sc in last dc, turn - 4 (6,6) sts.
Row 6: Ch 1, skip 1 sc, sc in next 1 (3, 3) sc, skip 1 sc, sc in last sc, fasten off Infant and Toddler size-2 (4,4) sts.



2nd ear flap:
Row 1: With right side facing skip the next 14 (18, 19) dc on last long row.  Join A in next dc. Work as for first ear flap.

Finishing. With right side facing, join B at back join.  Sc around. Fasten off. Weave in all ends.

Braided tassels (make 2):
With A, B and C cut 3 2 foot lengths and fold all 9 lengths in half.  Pull hooped end from front to back through the end of the ear flap, and loop through itself to secure.  Separate the colours and braid to desired length.  Tie end of braid and trim.

Snow is falling all around me!

So, last night I wrote about how beautiful it has been this fall, and this morning I woke up to a winter wonderland outside my door! Snow, snow, snow!!! Eli begged to put on his snowsuit the second he saw it, and despite it being quite cold, has been out in it for the last 2 hours.  He drops to the ground and rolls like it's the most wonderful thing in the world.  

Seriously, it makes me so happy! Last winter we were robbed of playing in the snow, because it honestly only snowed three times the whole time we were living in Spokane, and it usually melted by the end of the day.  I missed Michigan and I missed Calgary and I missed the snow. I'm so excited to play in it this winter!

It's about time for Christmas!

I don't want to complain, but it is a little hard to get into the Christmas Spirit with all the nice weather we are experiencing.  It has been such a nice fall in Calgary: unbelievably, really.  Eli spent an hour in the backyard today in just a t-shirt and jeans, in the middle of NOVEMBER! Crazy.

But, I'm not one to let a little sunshine get in my way, so let me spread a little Christmas your way by offering a Nativity set for this weeks giveaway. Here it is:

Now, don't be too impressed. I did not design or cut these pieces out.  But, I did paint and sand them! I have a set of my own and love it! 

Same rules apply as all the other giveaways.

Mandatory Entry:
1. Be a follower of my blog and comment on THIS post!

Extra Entries:
2. Comment on any other post this week.

I will draw, using Random.org, which I have finally figured out, next Sunday night, November 21, 2010. Hopefully lots of people from Calgary will enter this one, because this will cost an armload to mail. Oh what I go through for my faithful followers!

Comment away, my dear friends!  And, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Becoming a Doula

Two months before Silas was born, belly swollen and anticipation peaking, my incredible friend Sierra and her darling husband asked me to be part of the birth of their first daughter, to take pictures while they were focusing on other things. It was quite honestly one of the most incredible experiences of my entire life!  While I had seen countless videos of birth, actually witnessing their little Evelyn be born into this world was deeply spiritual for me.

(I don't think I even took this picture, I think it was from Jonathan's phone!)

I went to the birth armed with the knowledge I had from preparing for two births, but little else.  I like to think I was more useful than just being a photographer, but I'm not so sure.  Regardless, the experience left me with a desire to do it again, better educated and equipped to help the birthing mother through labour,

This weekend I began that journey.  I spent an emotional, educational and exciting three days in a workshop to become a certified birth doula.  A doula is someone who accompanies a woman in labour, providing emotional and physical support and offering comfort measures. There are incredible studies showing that with continuous support through labour, women are less likely to 
- receive regional analgesia
- have any analgesia/anesthesia
- give birth with vacuum or forceps
- give birth by cesarean
- be dissatisfied with their birth experience

This weekend I learned the basics of how to provide that support.  Most of the books on the reading list I had already read, and many of the comfort measures they taught us I learned as I prepared for the births of my two sons. However, considering how those births went, having a doula by my side at my next birth will be absolutely imperative: somehow all that I knew went out the window when I was in labour! 

Although I didn't expect it to, the workshop also provided me with a chance to heal a little from the memories and emotions I have been harboring about Silas's birth. As we talked through what a doula could do in similar circumstances, as I shared parts of my story with the other 29 women there, I don't know if I gave myself permission to grieve, or excused myself from the guilt I had surrounding that birth, but I definitely walked away with less pain and regret. That alone was worth the weekend!

So, now that the workshop is complete, to become a certified doula I need to attend three births, do a bunch of paperwork and I will be on my way!  After four years of being completely consumed by birth, I am so excited to be taking this step.  While I have no intention of ever making a living out of this, hopefully I will be able to help some women as they become mothers!  I quite honestly can't think of anything I would rather do with this kind of knowledge. 



And, as it is the end of the week, I get to announce a winner for my felted wool ball giveaway.  I was super excited to see that the very person who inspired this weekend won the giveaway, Sierra Hocklander!  Yeah! Sierra, let me know if you want me to personalize the balls or not, and I will be sending a package your way in the next week. Congratulations!

Only two more giveaways left! Come back tomorrow to see what's in store for this week!

I'm the luckiest mother on earth

The conversation I had while Eli was watching Lady and the Tramp II, when the offspring of the original movie runs away and declares that he doesn't love his family and doesn't want to go back home:

Eli, bursting into tears: "I'm so sad right now, Mom!"

Me: "Oh dear, how come, Eli?"

Eli: "I don't know, I just am."

Me: "Is the movie making you sad."

Eli: "No, I'm just sad, and I want that boy to go back to his daddy."

Me:  "I'm pretty sure he will really soon.  Do you want to come cuddle with me and we can watch it together."

Eli: "Yes, because I'm really sad."

I'm so grateful for a sensitive boy. I wonder sometimes how I can teach him kindness and empathy, but then I see little glimpses of just how sweet and understanding he is.  I am thankful that he is well attached to me and understands that little boys should love their families and want to be with them.  I really am the luckiest mom in the whole world!