Merry Christmas!!!

 (lobster trap tree - fitting for a New England Christmas)

To those of you who celebrate Christmas (and those of you who don't) I hope you are having a very merry day!!!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Andrea

My little pumpkin in a patch

When I was little, my Dad called me Pumpkin, because I had a round head (oh yeah, and because I was really cute!)  Our little Ella-Bean has a different family nickname, but for today, she was an honorary Pumpkin baby.  It was a lovely day with a bonus - we drove out to the pumpkin farm with friends Danielle and little Ewan - it is a rarity that two moms can sit and talk uninterrupted for 45 minutes (plus a bit more since I got a bit lost!)  I love the feeling of forming new and deeper friendships, it makes me feel very lucky and supremely happy.  

(Ewan and Ella admiring the ponies)

The pumpkin farm was less farm and more extravaganza!  There were cutouts and camel rides and giraffe (yes, I said giraffe) feeding areas.  I know, I know, a bit much - but we were not there for the spectacle, we were there for the pumpkins!!  

Big ones, little ones, fun warty ones - it was so fun watching Ella toddle around with the "big" kids, making me (and the other moms) feel like we were loosing our babies - Ella was the holdout, the baby of the bunch, and now with her walking, well, there's no denying that they are all growing up.  I am still wholeheartedly denying that I have a toddler.  No, I have a baby that walks, but she's still a baby (my baby).  

Keeping warm the crafty way...

Recently miss Ella-Bean debuted in her first (and only) modeling gig - a beautiful sweater designed and knit by my friend Danielle.  It's soft, it's intricate, it's amazing...AND if you are knitting-inclined the pattern is available for you to tackle over at Rhythm of the Home (along with lots of other fun things).  It makes me want to tackle (as in knit) something besides scarves...hmmm.

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You can't really see the button, but it was one of my favorite parts.  Seriously, I love this sweater...but I think Danielle would have figured something out if I had just picked up Ella and taken off running (though it may or may not have run through my mind...)  Plus we then probably wouldn't be friends anymore, and that's no good.

Don't know how Ashleigh did it!

For those of you who don't know her, Ashleigh, my best friend since I was 4yo, threw up for months with her pregnancy. I do not know how she did it and has come out the other end wanting to have another child!

Thank goodness I have not thrown up yet (I HATE throw-up, not that anyone likes it, but I mean I really really really hate it!) but my God I am nauseous every single moment of every single day. And I know I should be happy because most likely it means that I'm making the right hormones and everything is cooking correctly, but man am I ready to get off the morning sickness train! Blech!

Things that I now can't stand:
- pizza
- spaghetti sauce
- soup (of any kind)

Things I am now living off of:
- lime popsicles
- lemons in all forms
- cheese sticks

The thing I hate the most:
- Being hungry and nauseous at the same time...not fair!

The thing I love the most:
- That my family is growing!

What I can't wait for:
- My second trimester (April 20th) and first ultrasound!

What I'll miss:
- My waistline