Her first dress.Her first photo.Her first shoes.Her first hair bow.Her first ridiculously big hair bow.Her first boyfriend.Her first tutu.If only I could list them all.But still, nothing, and I mean NOTHING compares to her first pigtails.This amazing euphoria just comes over me,as she sits so still while I "make her hair pretty pretty"andI get those two curly strands of her hairinto the cutest pigtails you ever saw.Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph<!--Session data-->

the leaves danced in our courtswirling twirlinglike timelike I don't knowlike what I've long forgotten like what I can rememberthe shadows are there even if you don't look for thembut so is the sun. Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph<!--Session data--><!--Session data--><!--Session data-->

fall 2008fall 2009That first photo was taken on Sarah's birthday one year ago when I got stuck (another cute photo alert) in two different fatal accidents and thought I'd never get to her. If you don't know this already, Sarah is superspecial to me. And today is her birthday.Wish her well- she's @sarahviola on Twitter and blogs over here. Happy Birthday, Sarah. xoxoSubscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph<!--Session data--><!--Session data-->

Sakura Bloom linen Essential in berry-spiceSakura Bloom Triathlon Contestants,Welcome to the second stage of the Sakura Bloom Triathlon! We hope that you are already enjoying your double-layer linen Essential sling. The double layer of linen creates even more support and comfort for you and your baby, and is one of our customer favorites.Your challenge with this sling is the photo challenge. We're not just looking for pretty smiles (although we do love those!) but photos that capture the joy of carrying your child in a sling. You can submit your entry via email and/or a post on your blog by November 18. Best of luck with the challenge and we look forward to seeing your photos!-Lynne, Sakura BloomI love babywearing photos, so if you are not a part of the Triathlon but would like to play along with this challenge, leave a link to your favorite babywearing photo in the comments below.I'll choose my favorite and post it when we announce the Round Two winner after November 18!Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph<!--Session data--><!--Session data-->

I get this way, when I let time slip in between my thoughts and writing them down and when I go to write them down, they are gone. And I don't bother to look for them.I think sometimes there can be too many words. When I have so many words it gets crowded in my head and in my mouth and I trip over what should be said and what should be left unsaid.I am a library mouse, scampering about in this unfamiliar noisy life. Where are the books? Where are my words?A couple weeks ago on my way to therapy (yes, I go to therapy and it's a good thing) I was awestruck of a beautiful sunset and how it singed and stained the sky and stretched out across all the land, and the clouds made patterns...and it really made me feel very, very small.I've thought about that night often since then, and the best way I can describe it is just "Bigness." Have you ever lied in bed and felt like everything was giant around you? Something like that, only not scary.I mean, I know the world is big, but in that moment it felt infinite and like the sky had an unimaginable depth, with a world inside it that just kept going on and on.And here I was with my [small] problems and my [small] life and my [small] words making a too big deal out of it all.Just who do I think I am? And what am I going to do with myself?[to be continued...]Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph<!--Session data-->

I still pinch myself every day.Photo with Daddy, November 08 by Beth of Beth Fletcher PhotographySubscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph<!--Session data-->

[real life.] [baking.] Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph

fall 2006fall 2009Xavier came for a visit yesterday and I caught them doing a secret hand-shake-high-five thing that friends do.Remember that? Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph<!--Session data-->

Each one of the Triathlon contestants submitted and/or posted their answers to three questions asked by Lynne at Sakura Bloom for Round One of the Babywearing Triathlon. Every single answer was unique and wonderful to read. I encourage you to read them all. Lynne from Sakura Bloom, Summer from Fawn & Forest, and myself have chosen our winner.... Sara Sophia! Be enchanted by her answers to questions one, two, and three. Sara Sophia wins a $100 gift certificate to Fawn & Forest.The contestants' second batch of slings are shipping out now. Stay tuned for Round Two!What is the Sakura Bloom Triathlon?Visit our contestants' blogs:Marvelous KiddoDGVE Law8 year olds & BabiesCrooked EyebrowCrunchy Yuppietout-est-des-roses4 little men & girly twins[Also, I've been a bit behind on adding links to the Babywearing Blogroll but will be working on it tonight. Please email me or leave a comment if you've added the button and would like to be included in the blogroll!]Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph<!--Session data--><!--Session data-->

[shufflerustleshuffle.][yellow.][red.][collected.][a leaf bouquet.]You Capture: AutumnMore of our Washington St. photos and how I long to live there.Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph<!--Session data-->

Every time I drive down Washington St.,my heart makes its wish

and I say a prayer...

(The view from here.)I had a moment just sitting here, I didn't realize how low I must have been lately because in the past few days, I have been feeling very good.Like, I forgot how this felt. And I don't want to forget ever again.Oh, and we took the scenic route today.Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph

Hubby set up a tent in the playroom so the kids could campout last night. I was going to let them stay up late (and hope that they sleep in late!) but Noah decided he wanted to go to bed early so he wasn't going to stay in the tent, but was too lonely to sleep by himself in his room. I need my brothers with me. My heart smiled so big it squished any guilt I had about them having to share a room. They wouldn't have it any other way. They all three ended up in their own beds and were up niiiiice and early.

It's fall break here and there's no school today. (Neighbor kids came over. Tents do not cause children to multiply.)

Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph

Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph

I just made this: Chipotle Black Bean Chili and am going to sit down here for a moment to write out some things while I eat it.I'm thinking about going vegan again. I can't decide. We were supposed to try a new church tomorrow, but Ivy's been sick. It seems like just when we finally get back to life and on a roll, someone gets sick and we are set back again. Thankfully she'll nap all day long on hubby and I can do some things around the house. Something I'm emailed a LOT by people: How do you do it all?Answer: I don't.If I've got a good thing going in one area, it means there are probably a bunch of other things being severely neglected in another area. I try to find the balance but...Things gets so behind, and I find I am just taking care of what's on the surface and under my feet at that moment. So everything else in the corners and against the walls and behind the doors piles up and up. I have four tiny (loud) voices wanting to tell me stories or to ask me questions or to just say Mommy Mommy Mommy Mommy Mommy Mommy over and over and over again while I make their meals and wash their clothes and nurse the baby and try to sneak in a little work (stuff to write) and sometimes what gets me through (aside from the caffeine) is the promise that after they all go to bed, I can finally sit down with quiet and eat dinner or watch a show and do some knitting or cross-stitching or reading or writing and you know what?When they finally are all in bed and I look over them, pray over them, my heart filled to over-flowing, I forget about lots of the earlier stuff and hope hope hope they do, too. Then I usually collapse, exhausted, close my eyes for what seems like MINUTES and awake to another day to do it all over again.Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph<!--Session data--><!--Session data-->

The boys are off school until Tuesday. It's dreary and raindroppy and cold outside, so we're in for the day.

It's warm and peaceful and smells like coffee inside, so we're not complaining.Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph

Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph

Grayson's beloved doggy slipped from his hands while walking along the bridge above a fast-flowing creek. You could hear his broken heart as he screamed for his doggy being swept away in the stream.We ran along the creek to see if we could find a low place to grab it. Next thing I knew, Lovelyn had her jeans rolled up and was in the water.Doggy floated by and she scooped him up, rung him out, and saved the day!Bystanders cheered. We all sighed in relief. And went on our way.Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph<!--Session data--><!--Session data--><!--Session data-->

A rocket has to go 25,000 miles an hour to get into orbit... that's a lot of force, keeping us right where we are.

So, go ahead and tell your daughter to reach for the stars. Just, give her a break if she falls a little short.

(As heard on an episode of Samantha Who?)

Originally posted October 22, 2008.

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This is the dress I made with the new yarn. For those who were asking about the pattern, I posted it on Ravelry.com (I'm BabywearKnittery if you're on there) - the pattern is Little Girl's Sundress or Jumper by Diane Soucy and I found it to be super easy, especially if you already know how to make a sweater or hat.You can see more of my knitting projects at Ravelry or at my old knitting blog- And She Knits... guess I should update it a bit!I took the boys to see Where the Wild Things Are this past weekend and posted my thoughts about it at Real Moms Guide. See below for all of my most recent articles there if you would like to check them out.

• Where the Wild Things Are: is the movie too scary for your child?
• Must-have diaper bags for every budget
• Baby names: Heidi Klum's new baby girl and other celebrity baby names
• Green your Halloween: organic Halloween candy alternatives

*Updated below.I have been nominated for a Mommy Blog award at thebump.com and wasn't going to post anything but I guess I wouldn't mind a couple votes so that I get a little something more than the ZERO % I have going right now LOL. I don't mind. It truly is flattering just to be nominated and sounds like it's a complicated contest to win. But if you'd like to click over and vote for my "stay at home Mom blog" (apparently it ends today and you can vote as often as you wish) then it might be kinda cute. Let's see if I can get a % or two!Smoochies.*The contest has ended and I think I did make it into the 1% all thanks to you! :)Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm babysteph<!--Session data--><!--Session data-->

A couple weeks ago I was having one of those lives days and mentioned that I knitted up a dress for Ivy that I didn't like so I started over with a new yarn. Robin commented and encouraged me to finish the one I didn't like. That it might be good for me. Groan.So I did. And even though it looks kinda nice on the Internet, if you saw it in person it has many flaws, but it did turn out quite beautiful anyway.Maybe tomorrow I'll share a photo of the "new yarn" one. I'm very proud of both.Subscribe to my blog hereTwitter me- I'm

Comes a time, when you're drifting

Comes a time when you settle down.

Comes a light, feelings lifting.

Oh, this old world keeps spinning 'round.

It's a wonder tall trees ain't laying down.There comes a time.

You and I, we were captured. We took our souls and we flew away.

We were right, we were giving.

That's how we kept what we gave away.

Oh, this old world keeps spinning 'round.

It's a wonder tall trees ain't laying down.

There comes a time.There comes a time.

-Neil Young, "Comes a Time"