I thought a photo recap at the end of every month might be fun. This could easily go the way of this blog’s advice column, weekend in the city video series, event listings, attempt to review every single playground in the city (yes, I did), and the list goes sadly on. But I still have to try, so … ta da! The inaugural month in review photo post thing! Currently accepting naming suggestions.
Two major Mary milestones happened around the new year. She moved from cradle to crib (but is still in our room), for one.
And we broke out the Jolly Jumper! Her staying power is still a little weak, but we’re working on it.
And then I dressed her like an elf, a Christmas elf in January.
I bought a cheaper sewing machine because I didn’t want to spend fifty bucks on a sleep sack when we have so many blankets that could be easily sewn together. And then I sewed one! All it needs is velcro. Actually, nearly a month later, it’s fine without the velcro. So $100 for the machine minus $50 for the sleep sack plus $20 in flannel, elastic and velcro that I may never do anything with and … I made my own sleep sack for only $20 more than the retail value. Yay me!
I got a fancy new Blackberry with a decent camera, so now my pictures won’t suck so hard. (Because I’ve decided I will never actually hook up a camera to upload pictures the old-fashioned way on any sort of regular basis and I’m just rolling with that.) (They will still suck somewhat because I’m still the one taking them.)
There were boardgames with Grandma and Grandpa (and we all know where that led).
Irene started calling all elastic bands Silly Bandz and wearing them around like so many rubbery bangles.
We watched playoff football as a family and I was so proud the kids were mature enough to finally let me watch a game in peace. Er, we watched football as a family for ten minutes and then Colum and Irene started playing football, slamming into the couch and tackling each other on the carpet in front of my game. (Giants for the Superbowl, yo!)
We attended the funeral of Ed’s mom’s cousin, a good woman taken long before her time. Unfortunately it was the only occasion even remotely formal enough for Mary to wear this beautiful dress, a gift from one of her many great aunts.
Colum played hockey first thing on Sunday mornings and practiced outside on Monday evenings, even in a snow storm.
Irene decided to raid the too-small clothes boxes again and squeezed into a size 18-month white dress. She paired it with an OshKosh hoodie, striped leggings and winter boots. And she pulled it off, for crying out loud. She pulled it off.
