Have you ever walked into a shop and found yourself, within mere moments, enveloped by the warmth and cheer of the people inside? And then immediately drawn into the conversation? I think it is rare to have this experience in today's retail world. Today I had a lovely shopping experience, and I am bursting to tell you about it.
My friend and knitting buddy, Liz, and I went to a craft show at the GF Civic Center, where we saw some amazing handbags. The bags were knitted and then fulled (boiled, spun out in a clothes dryer, and then shaped before drying...some people call it felting). They were colorful, fun, and really great looking. The designer was Nancy McGrath of Moseskill Marketplace in Argyle, and she was nice enough to give us some pointers and ideas to help us get started. From the craft show we headed to a yarn shop Cyndie told me about, called Knit Wit Kreations.
Knit Wit is located just off the park/traffic circle in Hudson Falls, on Main Street. When we pulled up to the curb I thought it must be a tiny little shop, but when we opened the door we were surprised and delighted to find that the shop was much bigger than it looked, and it was filled to the brim with great yarns, yarns that can't be found at ACMoore, Michael's or JoAnne's. Knit Wit is worlds above the big box stores in its selection, organization, and customer service. When we walked into the shop we were warmly greeted by eight or so women who were sitting around a large circular table, enjoying an afternoon of knitting and chatting. At least three of them hopped up to greet us, and the shop owner, Claire (Cyndie's friend) came over to greet us as well. I have never felt so welcomed upon entering a shop. There was an almost tangible excitement in the air as women of varying ages connected over yarn and needles, and we found ourselves swept along in their tide of good cheer.
We were pointed in the direction of wool yarn, necessary for making fulled bags, and we spent at least an hour poring over the wonderful colors and textures we found there. Claire also let us know that they keep a dollar bin of yarns being discontinued in the room at the back, and we practically ran to it. The dollar bin held some really great choices, and I came home with six skeins of colorful, fun yarn. I also chose two skeins of purple wool, which I am itching to knit into a great handbag.
In this paragraph I will fall dreadfully short in my journalism skills...I don't know the store's hours, actual address, or phone number. I do know that on Saturdays from 10:30am til 4pm they offer free knitting lessons, and if you want to join their circular table of knitting friends you can chip in for lunch (pizza this Saturday, which looked and smelled quite yummy). I also know that you won't be disappointed by what you find behind the door...a group of friendly, outgoing, helpful people who are more than willing to offer knitting tips, suggestions about yarn, or ideas on technique (priceless for novice knitters). You'll find knitting machines, knitting and crochet supplies in great quantity and quality, and more pattern books than I could count. You'll also find great spirit and excitement for knitting, and that's the most important part of the equation. If you knit or crochet (and you live near me) you NEED to check out Knit Wit...maybe I'll see you there on Saturday?
Cyndie and Claire, if you want to fill in the details I didn't catch you can certainly leave them in the comments section here.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Hot cocoa
Yesterday afternoon Harry and I bundled up in our snowgear until we both looked like marshmallows and headed out into the cold to enjoy the measly 1" of snow that fell the previous evening. It was awesome! We ran and jumped and kicked a ball and pulled a sled and walked through the woods and chased the dogs around the yard. When we both tired out, after about an hour and a half, we shed our gear in the mudroom and turned on the kettle for a cup of hot cocoa, which we later enjoyed with Cheese Nips (white cheddar is the favorite in our house).
And as I tucked my boy (who is definitely a baby no longer) into bed with rosy red cheeks and nose, I realized that I need to have days like that more often. Rather, we both do. It is easy to sit inside and turn on the television. It is easy to snack all day long. It is easy to substitute exercise and outdoor fun with shopping and strolling through the mall. But those things do not fulfill us, they do not make us better people at the end of the day. Rolling in the snow with my son made me a better mom that day, and I pledge to him and to myself to do it more often, despite the 'easier' forms of entertainment.
And as I tucked my boy (who is definitely a baby no longer) into bed with rosy red cheeks and nose, I realized that I need to have days like that more often. Rather, we both do. It is easy to sit inside and turn on the television. It is easy to snack all day long. It is easy to substitute exercise and outdoor fun with shopping and strolling through the mall. But those things do not fulfill us, they do not make us better people at the end of the day. Rolling in the snow with my son made me a better mom that day, and I pledge to him and to myself to do it more often, despite the 'easier' forms of entertainment.
Friday, January 19, 2007
A good trip to the mailbox
We got our new pictures of Emma yesterday!!! She is oh-so-adorable, and those cheeks! They are so big and kissable! I haven't scanned in the pictures yet because I am too busy staring at them and wondering what her little personality will be like...but I did take a picture of the picture (lame, I know) so that you can see her:
Behold, the cheeks! And I know she looks like she has gotten quite chubby since our last set of photos, but if you look very closely you'll notice that her sweater sleeves are rolled up and the collar is halfway up the back of her head. I think perhaps her clothes are huge on her, which makes her look much bigger than the 14 lbs reported.
Here she is without the hat. I think she has lost some of her infant hair. Don't you love her raised eyebrows?
I could really just look at her all day long. Can we all please say a chant in favor of USCIS hurrying up with our I-600??? Thank you.
In order to keep my hands busy during Harry's nap this afternoon I made Emma's mobile for her room. I bought the metallic framework at T@rget during the Christmas season, and then I used paper cutouts for the bird, butterflies, dragonfly, flowers, and leaves. Her room will be a garden theme...more pictures to follow, once I've completed a few more projects.
Behold, the cheeks! And I know she looks like she has gotten quite chubby since our last set of photos, but if you look very closely you'll notice that her sweater sleeves are rolled up and the collar is halfway up the back of her head. I think perhaps her clothes are huge on her, which makes her look much bigger than the 14 lbs reported.
Here she is without the hat. I think she has lost some of her infant hair. Don't you love her raised eyebrows?
I could really just look at her all day long. Can we all please say a chant in favor of USCIS hurrying up with our I-600??? Thank you.
In order to keep my hands busy during Harry's nap this afternoon I made Emma's mobile for her room. I bought the metallic framework at T@rget during the Christmas season, and then I used paper cutouts for the bird, butterflies, dragonfly, flowers, and leaves. Her room will be a garden theme...more pictures to follow, once I've completed a few more projects.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
The Days Are Numbered
We woke this morning to a damp and dreary world, the kind of morning that instinctively makes you turn on the tea kettle and keep it warm all day. While I sit here and try to wipe the grog from my eyes, Harrison has grabbed Brendan by his index finger. "Room!" he demands and drags his father off down the hallway. They will be gone for perhaps 1/2 hour or more, and I have time to sit here, with a freshly brewed cup of tea, and try to imagine what our lives will soon be like.
In some ways it feels like our days as this family are numbered. Adding a child changes the dynamic of the family unit so markedly that I find myself savoring these last days and months together; at the same time I look forward to our future daughter and all of the joys, trials, and changes her arrival will bring. I honestly don't know how many more quiet, rainy mornings I will be able to spend at the computer, or just looking out the window, or reading from a favorite book. It's not a sad realization, or even a melancholy one...but today I sit here and savor the sound of Harry and Brendan playing together down the hall while I enjoy the luxury of a moment's solitude.
I think I am going to miss the moments on weekday afternoons when Harrison finally succumbs to sleep, the house falls quiet, and the dogs begin to snore. I doubt very much that my children will nap at the same time...we're just not that organized as a household. I will miss sleeping in on weekend mornings, listening to the birds outside or the rain tapping on the skylight, and hearing Harry's steady breathing on the monitor. I will miss my slightly less babyproofed house...Harrison has stopped sucking and drooling on everything in sight so some of my favorite things have crept back into our living spaces...soon they will have to be packed away again. I will miss being able to take a shower, knowing that I can trust Harry not to get hurt or get into much of anything for my eight to ten minutes of morning routine. Today I am taking a moment to think of the things I will miss so that I can enjoy them all the more while I can. I remember what the first months were like when Harry arrived, and I know that we're in for some major upheaval. It's ok, though. As a maker of lists, if I write down the things I will miss then I can let them go...to be picked up at a later date when our lives have reorganized themselves into a new normalcy.
I look forward to having my arms full of baby; I cannot wait for those precious, peaceful moments of early morning and late evening bottles when the rest of the world ceases to exist and all that is left is me and the baby staring into my eyes. Or the moments when a baby falls asleep on you, the weight of their sleep making your arms ache but you can't bear to set them down because then your arms would miss them. Or the smell of their hair, and the way little soft tufts of it tickle your nose when you inhale. I look forward to taking two children on outings to the park and watching them delight in the ducks, fish, and ponds. I look forward to seeing the nightlight lit in her room, it's faint glow outlining the curve of her cheek as she sleeps. I look forward to watching Harry become a big brother...he loves babies and has always been fascinated by other children so I look forward to his reaction to her (good or bad).
Pretty soon we're going to be a family of four. Holy cow. It's really happening! I'll will of course post pictures as soon as we have them, but so far they have not arrived.
In some ways it feels like our days as this family are numbered. Adding a child changes the dynamic of the family unit so markedly that I find myself savoring these last days and months together; at the same time I look forward to our future daughter and all of the joys, trials, and changes her arrival will bring. I honestly don't know how many more quiet, rainy mornings I will be able to spend at the computer, or just looking out the window, or reading from a favorite book. It's not a sad realization, or even a melancholy one...but today I sit here and savor the sound of Harry and Brendan playing together down the hall while I enjoy the luxury of a moment's solitude.
I think I am going to miss the moments on weekday afternoons when Harrison finally succumbs to sleep, the house falls quiet, and the dogs begin to snore. I doubt very much that my children will nap at the same time...we're just not that organized as a household. I will miss sleeping in on weekend mornings, listening to the birds outside or the rain tapping on the skylight, and hearing Harry's steady breathing on the monitor. I will miss my slightly less babyproofed house...Harrison has stopped sucking and drooling on everything in sight so some of my favorite things have crept back into our living spaces...soon they will have to be packed away again. I will miss being able to take a shower, knowing that I can trust Harry not to get hurt or get into much of anything for my eight to ten minutes of morning routine. Today I am taking a moment to think of the things I will miss so that I can enjoy them all the more while I can. I remember what the first months were like when Harry arrived, and I know that we're in for some major upheaval. It's ok, though. As a maker of lists, if I write down the things I will miss then I can let them go...to be picked up at a later date when our lives have reorganized themselves into a new normalcy.
I look forward to having my arms full of baby; I cannot wait for those precious, peaceful moments of early morning and late evening bottles when the rest of the world ceases to exist and all that is left is me and the baby staring into my eyes. Or the moments when a baby falls asleep on you, the weight of their sleep making your arms ache but you can't bear to set them down because then your arms would miss them. Or the smell of their hair, and the way little soft tufts of it tickle your nose when you inhale. I look forward to taking two children on outings to the park and watching them delight in the ducks, fish, and ponds. I look forward to seeing the nightlight lit in her room, it's faint glow outlining the curve of her cheek as she sleeps. I look forward to watching Harry become a big brother...he loves babies and has always been fascinated by other children so I look forward to his reaction to her (good or bad).
Pretty soon we're going to be a family of four. Holy cow. It's really happening! I'll will of course post pictures as soon as we have them, but so far they have not arrived.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Phone calls that bring good news
The brief illness that showed its worst in a lengthy fit of sneezes has left me, and I am feeling restored to health. Nary a sneeze in sight, and no drippy nose, either. Hooray!
Also worthy of hooray is the phone call I received yesterday morning from our adoption agency. Before I tell you the hooray part, let me tell you why I was so happy to hear from them.
Last Friday afternoon a woman at our adoption agency (let's call her Claire) called and asked me if I had gotten our NYS child abuse clearance. Usually the clearance goes right to the adoption agency, and they wondered if we had received it for some reason and failed to let them know. We had not received the clearance. Claire suggested we try to contact the state department in charge of said clearance and find out why it was taking so long...most clearances take 3-6 weeks to receive, and ours had been out for eleven weeks. She and the other man in the office would work on it from their end, we would work on it from ours, and whoever had any type of success would call the other.
After allowing myself a moment's worth of panic I tried to find a phone number, an e-mail address, or any way to contact the state department but I had no luck. I hoped I would hear from the agency, or that they would receive the clearance over the weekend.
The importance of this clearance is huge in the long line of documents that are needed to adopt an international child. As I understand it, the state child abuse clearance (the missing link, in this case) must be sent along with a copy of our homestudy to the federal government as part of our I-600 application. the I-600 is our application for permission to bring an international orphan into the country as our child, and it is the paperwork that eventually results in Emma's visa. So, not having the state clearance holds up the whole shebang, and the beautiful little girl who will be our daughter grows older and more attached to her foster family while we pine for her on the other side of the world.
So yesterday the phone rings, the caller ID says "Name of our Agency" and I run to answer it. It is Claire, and she says our agency director would like to speak to me...can I hold? I hold and then the agency director's voice comes on the line and she tells me to grab a pen and paper. My heart jumps as she begins to tell me all sorts of details about our soon-to-be daughter...a well baby report! Hooray!
Here are my notes:
Well Baby Report December 26...4 months and two days old.
Takes slightly less than 5 oz. in bottle with a good sucking motion all at once. Burps well. Has one BM per day. Loves her bath and smiles the whole time. She goes to be between 10 and 11 each night and wakes at 6 am...she sleeps through the night. At 6 am she has a bottle, plays for about an hour, and then falls back asleep until 9am. She takes three naps per day, each about 1/2 to one hour long.
She is a very happy baby and smiles all of the time. She used to use a pacifier but gave it up on her own two weeks prior to the doctor visit. She drools a lot and may be teething. She sleeps with her foster mother on the floor (normal for Korea). She has a huge belly laugh when she is happy and has a very big smile.
She is trying to roll over but has not succeeded yet, and gets frustrated that she cannot roll over. She picks up toys and puts them in her mouth. She puts her whole fist in her mouth. She will bear weight on her legs. On her belly she lifts her head and chest. She is sometimes shy around strangers and will stare at people she does not know. She is adorable when she smiles, and has a very clear complexion.
November 24: Weight 12.6 lbs, Height 23.5 inches.
December 26: Weight 14.6 lbs, Height 24 inches.
Pictures should arrive soon!!!
After I spoke with the agency director, Claire asked if we had heard anything about our clearance and urged me to once again try to contact the state department in charge.
About ten minutes later our agency called me back and told me they finally got through to the state department, who said we were cleared the first week in October, but it must have been lost in the mail. They faxed a copy of the clearance and mailed a hard copy to our agency, so we're back on track. Hooray!
Any guesses as to how long it will be before she comes home? I think it could be as early as a month form now, but will probably take longer than that...so maybe the first week in March?
I'm so excited and happy right now!
Also worthy of hooray is the phone call I received yesterday morning from our adoption agency. Before I tell you the hooray part, let me tell you why I was so happy to hear from them.
Last Friday afternoon a woman at our adoption agency (let's call her Claire) called and asked me if I had gotten our NYS child abuse clearance. Usually the clearance goes right to the adoption agency, and they wondered if we had received it for some reason and failed to let them know. We had not received the clearance. Claire suggested we try to contact the state department in charge of said clearance and find out why it was taking so long...most clearances take 3-6 weeks to receive, and ours had been out for eleven weeks. She and the other man in the office would work on it from their end, we would work on it from ours, and whoever had any type of success would call the other.
After allowing myself a moment's worth of panic I tried to find a phone number, an e-mail address, or any way to contact the state department but I had no luck. I hoped I would hear from the agency, or that they would receive the clearance over the weekend.
The importance of this clearance is huge in the long line of documents that are needed to adopt an international child. As I understand it, the state child abuse clearance (the missing link, in this case) must be sent along with a copy of our homestudy to the federal government as part of our I-600 application. the I-600 is our application for permission to bring an international orphan into the country as our child, and it is the paperwork that eventually results in Emma's visa. So, not having the state clearance holds up the whole shebang, and the beautiful little girl who will be our daughter grows older and more attached to her foster family while we pine for her on the other side of the world.
So yesterday the phone rings, the caller ID says "Name of our Agency" and I run to answer it. It is Claire, and she says our agency director would like to speak to me...can I hold? I hold and then the agency director's voice comes on the line and she tells me to grab a pen and paper. My heart jumps as she begins to tell me all sorts of details about our soon-to-be daughter...a well baby report! Hooray!
Here are my notes:
Well Baby Report December 26...4 months and two days old.
Takes slightly less than 5 oz. in bottle with a good sucking motion all at once. Burps well. Has one BM per day. Loves her bath and smiles the whole time. She goes to be between 10 and 11 each night and wakes at 6 am...she sleeps through the night. At 6 am she has a bottle, plays for about an hour, and then falls back asleep until 9am. She takes three naps per day, each about 1/2 to one hour long.
She is a very happy baby and smiles all of the time. She used to use a pacifier but gave it up on her own two weeks prior to the doctor visit. She drools a lot and may be teething. She sleeps with her foster mother on the floor (normal for Korea). She has a huge belly laugh when she is happy and has a very big smile.
She is trying to roll over but has not succeeded yet, and gets frustrated that she cannot roll over. She picks up toys and puts them in her mouth. She puts her whole fist in her mouth. She will bear weight on her legs. On her belly she lifts her head and chest. She is sometimes shy around strangers and will stare at people she does not know. She is adorable when she smiles, and has a very clear complexion.
November 24: Weight 12.6 lbs, Height 23.5 inches.
December 26: Weight 14.6 lbs, Height 24 inches.
Pictures should arrive soon!!!
After I spoke with the agency director, Claire asked if we had heard anything about our clearance and urged me to once again try to contact the state department in charge.
About ten minutes later our agency called me back and told me they finally got through to the state department, who said we were cleared the first week in October, but it must have been lost in the mail. They faxed a copy of the clearance and mailed a hard copy to our agency, so we're back on track. Hooray!
Any guesses as to how long it will be before she comes home? I think it could be as early as a month form now, but will probably take longer than that...so maybe the first week in March?
I'm so excited and happy right now!
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Ahhhh CHOOOOOOO
I know I haven't posted in a long, long while. You see, I was the happy recipient of many new kitchen gadgets, a new camera, and an MP3 player for Christmas and I have been spending some time getting to know them. I've also been reading. A. Lot. Just ask Brendan, who has been wandering around asking "Have you seen my wife? She's got brown hair, she's kind of short. The last time I saw her she was wearing sweatpants and had a new book in her hands." I sort of have this bad habit of disappearing while reading a book. I cease to exist, and only the words in type matter for a few days.
And I'm sick. I have sneezed so much today that my right eye is swollen half-shut and my mascara is running south. I look like some sort of dopey pirate. Please don't pop by today. If I move I sneeze. If I sit still I sneeze. If I lay down the sneezy feeling tickles so much that I laugh, which makes me sneeze. I'm a wreck.
Harry is down for a nap now, and I am going to try to make my way to the medicine cabinet between sneezes to see what kinds of drugs we might have on hand.
Happy, Happy Birthday to Cyndie! I'll call you once the sneezes subside...
And I'm sick. I have sneezed so much today that my right eye is swollen half-shut and my mascara is running south. I look like some sort of dopey pirate. Please don't pop by today. If I move I sneeze. If I sit still I sneeze. If I lay down the sneezy feeling tickles so much that I laugh, which makes me sneeze. I'm a wreck.
Harry is down for a nap now, and I am going to try to make my way to the medicine cabinet between sneezes to see what kinds of drugs we might have on hand.
Happy, Happy Birthday to Cyndie! I'll call you once the sneezes subside...
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