Pass the sparkle...season

So, I've been looking forward to spending this holiday season with Doozer and Topher.

Last Christmas, Doozer was a screaming peanut. He had no concept of the holidays. We were home from the hospital a day or so before Christmas. But, one of the pictures I hold most dear, is of Topher showing Doozer the Christmas tree. Th sentiment is beautiful. Doozer hasn't gotten into the age of consumerism and "Iwantthatnow" yet. He is still enthralled by the lights of the trees, and the snow falling on his forehead. I get excited thinking of the traditions our new little family will get to begin - new pj's on Christmas Eve, reading "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" every night with my son in my arms. Creating beautiful memories with my husband.

So, I've got a little tree up and I'm planning the decorating of the big one. I'm getting ready to fish a Doozer and a Pablo out of the tree for the next month. I'm getting ready to finish the sock monkey which will be the first present Dooze will open up. His Christmas hat is knit and ready to be decorated and tinsel-ated. Bring on the egg nog and family time and roast beast!!! I'm ready for it!

Birthday Fun

Doozer is fast approaching his first birthday. Numero Uno. The big O-N-E. From a woman who thought kids was totally not my style, I'm excited. My little bug is going to be one. He has gone from a screaming mess to this amazing little person. He learns something new every day - last week he was teetering around, and now he's walking and pinballing off of obstacles in the living room.

I find the skills that he's learned so much fun to watch. He's discovered the cats. Pablo and Hobbes are so completely disinterested in him, but he desperately wants to pull a tail. Little things, you know?

But, it's birthday party season. Celebrating the kiddos who, this time last year, were itty-bitty screamy people. I'm knitting a sock monkey for Doozer. I've been inspired by the recent sock monkey hat/mitten craze, so I figured I'd create one for him. Something he'll hopefully love and cuddle with for years to come. I put love and kisses into every stitch for him - this monkey will be a comfort when I'm not there for him. I'm using some stash yarn - some soft self-striping for the body and some mmmmmmmmmmmMalabrigo for the mouth and feet. I'd use it for the whole body if I had enough - that yarn is like crack for your needles!

I need to come up with a good name for said monkey. Something with panache!