2009 Review- Daegan

2009 Review- Logan

sunshine

smile!

i'll do it myself, mom!

how's that soap taste?

cry, cry baby

can i take a bath, too, brother?

not crying. talking.

of love and logic

"Ew. Mama don't kiss me. Mama's kisses are YUCKY."

"Daegan, go get a diaper for nap time."
"That's right, mama. Don't want to get bed wet. Nope. If I pee in the bed, it gets wet. Because my penis works."

"No, sweetie, you may not play outside. It is too cold."
"Then I will just get jacket. Mama take care of Daegan, Mama get Daegan jacket so I play outside."

Collective works from today.

Night-Time Nursing: A Christmas Tale

T'was two nights before Christmas
When all through the house
only one creature was stirring
and it wasn't a mouse.

Mama and babe lay snug in their bed,
arms wrapped around each other
each resting their head.

The babe had teeth a' cuttin' through
so when nursing, he bit often
mama knew what to do

But that night was special-
they were both just so tired
so when she felt bites
mama just retired

back to sleep
back to dreams she fled
thinking the biting was all in her head

Later that night,
there was more pain
and more teeth
Mama still slept through it all- a deep, deep sleep

The third time a charm,
she finally opened her eyes
to scold that poor baby
though knowing he'd cry

But what to her wondering eyes did appear?
A cat lay between her boob and her dear!
The baby was soundly asleep, oh so small,
arm lazily draped across his purring new doll!

The cat was brazenly nursing away
with mama asleep at the wheel,
thinking her babe was at play!

"Oh, my!" she exclaimed!
"You stupid cat!"
"You will NOT nurse off me,
and that is that!"

The cat went a flying
across the room
meowing and screaming,
he deserved it, too!

Now, late at night,
when those tender teeth clamp
mama will wake ever so much from her nap
to make sure the one who is causing the pain
is the one who from milk has so much to gain.

Happy Nightime Nursing, everyone!

Santa

Yesterday at the post office, we were waiting in a tiny room stuffed with people. Daegan was so excited to be running errands that he ran up to each child (and very short adult) in the room, threw his arms around them and gave them a big squeeze.

"Hello!" He said to each, "My name is Daegan. Santa's coming and he is bringing Daegan presents! Maybe you see Santa, too! Have a Happy Christmas!"

He did this fifteen or so times.

Even though we were in a tiny, stuffy building, waiting too long, there was not a single adult in the building who wasn't grinning.

Shows how just a little Christmas Spirit can make the mundane magical.

unaborted

Watching Daegan today, I cannot believe I got so close to aborting him.

I was so sick, so, so sick- I didn't know pregnancy could be life-threatening. I lost 75 pounds through his pregnancy.

I am so glad that God helped me love him before I knew him and stick through it.

He was worth it, every child is worth it.

Now I am so, so thankful that God changed my heart about him. He is such a special, smart, unique child. He is irreplaceable.

In fact, by fighting for him, I learned how to fight. In a huge way, Hyperemesis was such a blessing in my life. Such a gift. Both times.

Not that I want to open that gift again any time soon...

The 2010 TBW Calendar is done!!

You can order yours here! Proceeds go to help support that wonderful community we all love so much!
http://www.cafepress.com/thebabywearer.423303173

If you click on the link below the photo of the cover, you can see all the months, too!

Very Full

Wow. So, I guess it has been a while since I posted anything meaningful, so here is a quick synopsis of where we are right now:

Finishing up XMas.

Finishing up the TBW Calendar!

Debating on organizing the Override Election for MUSD.

Trying to talk COC (my church) into hosting a Christmas Pageant in 2010. Volunteering to organize it.

8 Fry's gift cards are burning a hole in my purse. I need to find a reasonable project to fashion around them.

Trying to bring a sustainable garden here to Maricopa through Seeds (check out the Seeds Blog for more info).

Debating on getting my official non-prof license this year or just letting Seeds remain a network?

Taking 2 Master's classes- finished with school in 6 weeks. Not degree-finished, just finished. Tired of it.

Daegan is potty training! Yeah for poops in the potty!!

Logan is teething with a smidgen of separation anxiety, so no yeahs for that! :(

Trying to get back to my regular weight- lost 6 pounds so far, 2.5 weeks in!! :)

Realizing strength training is a must, working it in, because of genetic osteo-arthritis threats. (BOO)

Starting to learn bellydancing again (usually while babywearing! Wowza what a great workout!)

Feeling good but busy, very busy.

I always want things to slow down, but life is so good, and there are so many cool things to do that I just don't.

So, please, don't think less of me if my posts are short and simple these days! :P

Merry Christmas!

The Winter Months

world's. worst. wrapjob.

we only went to check the mail.

no wonder he suddenly started complaining it was cold!

bad math

a few updates this week.

first tooth

crawling


new struggles:

newfound mobility literally while nursing with first tooth.

not fun.

eyefull Photography- Our 2009 Family Photos

In an amazing trade for dinner and dessert, Dawnielle offered me a mini photo session for our family photo album. When I started seeing the pics, I wondered if it was a fair trade for just dinner. However, she loved the recipe (Better Than Sex Tortilla Soup) and will likely make it again many times, so now I feel like I contributed more! :P  Dawnielle is a very sweet friend of mine- she did a great job capturing our family vibe!

If you want to talk to her about getting your photos done, check out her blog at http://dawnielecastellanoseyefull.blogspot.com/. She has such a sweet soul- you would do well trusting your family to her!

TBW Calendar, cont.

These pages were done by Em at http://www.littlebitsandmore.com/. Thanks, Em!!!

and this one by the lovely Larissa!

More Months Done!

Our Family Has Grown!

This is my new baby sister, Cheyanne!

She is 14, and is such a great kid.

We really can't wait to have her around more- I am already plotting to steal her from Gram Tam as soon as she isn't looking! :P

She just LOOOOOVES Daegan, too... so I just might have to take advantage of that.

Family Photo Time!

This one was taken by Amy Jamieson at the Portraits at the Duke project. Isn't it lovely?

I think it captures the spirit of our family so well!

Especially Daegan's expression.

These two were done by Dawniele, a super-sweet local photographer. Daegan was, well... let's say, not in the mood. Still, she managed to get past the grump and lens resistance and capture these two gems. Fabulous!

TBW Calendar: August

Ok, so I am learning now how to digitally scrapbook so that I can complete the promised TBW 2010 Calendar. Boy, this is a lot of work, especially for a newbie! :) If anyone out there wants to take one of the months, please email me at KLSavell@aol.com, and I will send you that month's pics and the specs for the calendar. Otherwise, I am still very happy to do it, but cannot guarantee that it will be done in time to gift for XMas. :) I am really aiming for the New Year... but we will see. Who knows? Maybe I can get it all done. Anything is possible. For now, please let me know what you think of the one page I have completed...

a hand-blown dream

I had the most amazing dream last night.

I rented a whole room in an art studio. Painted it black- the walls, the ceiling, the floor. In the room, I hung my large, recently completed collection of hand blown glass sculptures of germs- they were the size of beach balls, hung at various heights. They were lit using LED colored lights, so that they had an eretheal glow to them.

The reception for the grand opening of the exhibit was a big deal- little black dresses, martini glasses. The reception was held below, the crowd gazing up at my sculptures. Everyone who attended the reception got a mini glass germ sculpture ornament to take home.

*sigh*

One day, I will possess the time, money and skill to maybe master glass blowing- and when I do, the world had better watch out, because glass is an amazing medium to work in.

baby's first...

obvious lie.

"Daegan, it is time to go potty!"
"Ok, mama!"
walks into bathroom, immediately flushes toilet, walks out
"All done! I did it myself! M&M please?"

*Note: M&M's are his reward  for using the potty.

sugar high

6mo pics

Piet Mondrian

I watched a documentary today on the Ovation Channel about a painter named Piet Mondrian. This man, like so many other painters, never really was appreciated in the art world until after his death in 1944. His art was unremarkable to me, as was his life.

What was remarkable to me, however, was that this man painted his whole life... and each painting to him was fresh and new, always a matter of serious contemplation, years of effort... and every single painting looked exactly the same!

I really don't understand same-people. My life varies from season to season, from medium to medium. Each thing is new, new perspectives, new routines, new everything.  I have a friend who's life is in exactly the same routine today as it was three years ago, and as it will be three years from now. Nothing changed. 

I wonder- how do we grow, explore ourselves, if we always stay within such rigid comfort zones?

Then, extended to Piet, how is art art if it doesn't press those boundaries? What exactly did he see in these paintings which fulfilled him so much that he never deviated?

I don't really understand some people... same-people. Do you?